The Magno family allegedly had a role in the founding of the Church of San Vito in 912 CE.
A few family members have left some traces in the annals.
A Giovanni Magno became a bishop in 1306. A Stefano, born after 1499, wrote a Chronicle of Venice. A Michele who died in 1720, fought the Turks and had various official position. His brother Stefano was a member of the Council of Forty on several occasion.
The male line of the Magno family ended in 1852.
The Building
The Palazzo Magno, or Palazzo Magno-Bembo, is a fairly typical early Gothic palace, with some traces of Byzantine architecture.
Drawing of the ground plan, first floor and façade of the Palazzo Magno – from .
Drawing of the ground plan, first floor and façade of the Palazzo Magno – from .
Drawing of the ground plan, first floor and façade of the Palazzo Magno – from .
The footprint is very narrow. The façade is on the short side towards the Calle Magno, and the second courtyard on the Rio de le Gorne in the back.
Many early palaces in Venice have an L-shape around a courtyard. The Ca’ d’Oro is a well-known example.
The Palazzo Magno has a double L-shape, both around the front courtyard towards the calle, and around the back courtyard towards the canal behind the building.
As was normal, the courtyard has a centrally placed well, which was used to collect rainwater off the roofs.
Also typical of the Venetian Gothic, the staircase to the piano nobile is in the courtyard, not inside the building.
Photo gallery of the Palazzo Magno
The Palazzo Magno is now private apartments, and it is not open for visits. However, one lucky day one of the residents let me into the courtyard where I could take a few photos.
The base of the staircase in the courtyard
The base of the staircase in the courtyard
The base of the staircase in the courtyard
The front courtyard with the well head and the staircase for the piano nobile.
The front courtyard with the well head and the staircase for the piano nobile.
The front courtyard with the well head and the staircase for the piano nobile.
The top of the staircase in the courtyard of the Palazzo Magno
The top of the staircase in the courtyard of the Palazzo Magno
The top of the staircase in the courtyard of the Palazzo Magno
The courtyard seen from above.
The courtyard seen from above.
The courtyard seen from above.
The front courtyard with the well head and the front door.
The front courtyard with the well head and the front door.
The front courtyard with the well head and the front door.
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