[Illustration]

A SUMMARY HISTORY

OF THE

PALAZZO DANDOLO

NOW

ROYAL HOTEL DANIELI

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VENICE

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1896

[Illustration: VIEW OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE TWO PALACES WHICH FORM THEROYAL HOTEL DANIELI]

In 1805 the second floor of the Palazzo Dandolo, situated in theCalle delle Razze, and fronting on to the Riva degli Schiavoni, wasbought by a certain Dal Niel, sur-named Danieli, from a member of thefamilies of Michiel and Bernardo, into whose hands it had come, partlyby inheritance and partly by marriages. The new proprietor convertedit into an hotel, giving it his own name--_Hotel Danieli_. 

Although the use to which this Palace, which once occupied so largea place in the glories of the history of Venice, has been put duringthe present century is very different from that for which it was built, it has always been kept most worthily, first by Danieli, then by hisdaughter Alfonsina, the wife of Vespasiano Muzzarelli, then by hisgrand-daughter, Giuseppina Roux, and last by S. S. Genovesi and Campi;so that it had the honour, which it still possesses, of being chosenby Emperors, Kings, Princes, and Ambassadors, and by great men of allcountries whose artistic travels bring them to this incomparable city, so justly called the «Pearl of the Adriatic». 

To the honour of the proprietors, who have succeeded one another in thishotel, be it said that although, from time to time, certain works havebeen executed in this historic Palace, to adapt it to its new use as anhotel, yet not only have the staircases, the saloons and the variousapartments been preserved just as they were, but the artistic beauties, and the historical souvenirs, have been carefully respected; thestuccoes and frescoes of the XVIth and XVIIth century have been spared;and the portraits and heraldic shields of the Dandolos, the Bernardos, and the Mocenigos can still be admired today in their originalpositions. 

[Illustration: PANORAMAS FROM THE BALCONIES OF THE PALAZZO DANDOLO(NOW HOTEL ROYAL DANIELI)]

[Illustration: PANORAMAS FROM THE BALCONIES OF THE PALAZZO DANDOLO(NOW HOTEL ROYAL DANIELI)]

It will surely be agreeable to the travellers who come to lodge inthis remarkable building to know its origin and its history. We proposeto give them a rapid sketch of both; and we believe it will not beuninteresting to them to know that in the halls and chambers theyinhabit, some of the most important acts of the great Venetian Republichave been discussed and decided upon; and that in this Palace besidesDoges and Senators, Kings and Ambassadors, Alfred de Musset (then a fairand charming young man in delicate health) took up his abode, in 1833, and Balzac, mme George Sand (who here wrote her novel _LeoneLeoni_), and Victor Feuillet, who, for his magnificent romance«L'Honnêteté», drew his inspiration from Venetian subjects. 

But to return to the ancient history of the Palace (now Hotel RoyalDanieli) it was built in 1400, by one of the Dandolo families, butwhether by that of the great Doge, Enrico Dandolo, is not quite certain. In the _Chronicles of Malipiero_ which date from 1457 to 1500 wefind the following passage «Today, the 28th August 1498, have arrivedthe Ambassadors of Florence, Rucellai and Vespucci; who are lodged inthe Palazzo Dandolo, in the Calle delle Razze». We should here remarkthat the beautiful Gothic door, in the Calle delle Razze was originallythe principle entrance, and the one on the Riva degli Schiavoni hasonly been opened in recent years for the convenience of travellers. 

We find confirmation of what has been said as to the date of the Palace, and as to the family who built it, in the _Diary of Sanudo_, inwhich he tells us that «on the 7th April 1498 the Prince of Salerno cameto Venice. A most brilliant reception was given him, great _festas_were held in his honour, and he, and his suite of forty-four personswere lodged in the Dandolo Palace of the _Calle delle Razze_». 

Sanudo tells us again that «in 1499, this magnificent abode wasprepared, by order of the Republic, to receive worthily the FrenchAmbassadors». 

We could cite many other historical passages proving that this Palacehad belonged to the Dandolo family, but one more, and a very interestingone, must suffice. In _Sanudo's Diary_ we read again «On theevening of the 21 February 1531 the orator Cesareo, in the PalaceDandolo, Calle delle Razze, on the quay, gave a very great feast, withfireworks concerts, and illuminated boats, Spanish fashion, on the Canalof St. Mark's, on the occasion of the elevation of the king of Hungaryand Boemia, to the dignity of a King of the Romans». 

This historic Palace passed from the Dandolos to the Gritti family, in1536, by a deed of sale; and it is not without interest to note that todistinguish it from others of the same name, it is called in the deed, «that Palazzo Dandolo in which generally abides the Ambassadors ofFrance». 

[Illustration: ATRIUM AND DUCAL STAIRS IN THE PALAZZO DANDOLO]

After the Dandolos and the Grittis, the Michiel, the Mocenigo and theBernardo families became its possessors by marriage, and they retainedit till the beginning of the present century, when, as we have said, its second floor was sold, by the noble Dame Helen Michiel, widow ofAlvise Bernardo to Dal Niel. Dal Niel left it to his daughter AlfonsinaMuzzarelli, who was able, in 1840 to buy the first floor from the nobleFilippo Nani, the heir of the Mocenigos; and thus the whole buildingpassed to her daughter Giuseppina Roux, and forms the present HotelRoyal Danieli. 

The interior of this beautiful Palace we have already described itsarchitecture in Venetian Gothic, and Sansovino's hand is to be tracedin many of its details. It well deserves the reputation that it enjoysof being one of the noblest hotels in the world--indeed its artisticbeauties, and its historic associations, can only be equalled by itsunique and romantic position. Mme Georges Sand, who lodged in the hotelin May 1834, as she watched from her balcony the sun setting over theenchanting scene spread out before her, writes in her Letters of aTraveller--«The sun had set behind the Euganean hills, great purpleclouds hung in the sky over Venice. The tower of St Mark's, the domesof Sta. Maria, and the forest of spires and minarets that rise from allparts of Venice, were drawn in black outline against the burnishedhorizon. The sky passed, by an admirable gradation, from cherry red toenamelled blue; and the water, calm and limpid as a glass, gave back theexact reflection of this immense iridescence. Nearer the town the lagoonwas like a vast mirror of bronze. Never had I seen Venice so lovely andso fairy-like». 

To the beauty of a panorama unequalled in the world, that is spreadbefore the windows of the hotel to its historic associations to thepurity and the grandeur of its architecture, to the Venetiansumptuousness of its halls and chambers (including the green saloon ofthe Doges) to the magnificence of its Atrium and staircase--preserved inits original XVth cent. Condition, must now be added the important worksof restoration and embellishment just completed by the presentproprietors who by the aid of clever architects, artists and decorators, have studied the means of bringing into requisition all the modernappliances, in the way of Steam and Electricity, to produce luxury andcomfort, without taking from this interesting Venetian monument itsoriginal character, which carries the traveller back to the epoch of theDandolos, the Grittis, the Bernardos, the Michielis and the Mocenigos. 

[Illustration: SCALA D'ORO]

THE NEW YORK HERALD

(European Edition) of April 14th

says:

We have pleasure in offering to the readers of the NEW YORK HERALDa few details about this splendid hotel, which, because of its ancienthistory, its modern additions, its internal arrangements, itstopografical position at Venice, is one of the most interesting hotelsin Italy. 

We will begin by pointing out the frame is worthy of the picture. Amongall the cities of the world, incontestably the most beautiful and themost unique is Venice--the «Queen of the Adriatic». 

Venice for the traveler, for the artist, for the poet, is far moreinteresting than Naples, and even than Rome. The shores of Naples, however enchanting, the monuments of Rome, however incomparable, can bepictured by the imagination even without visiting them, but Venice canbe comprehended and realized only by seeing it with the eyes and byliving its life, and the more this is done, the greater becomes theadmiration excited. 

The enchanting mysteries of its canals and of its picturesque streetsand calles, the grandeur of its monuments and of its palaces, which riseas by enchantment from the limpid water, the atmosphere of poetry andart which surrounds it, are not to be described, or if described presentbut a faint picture of the reality. 

This, then, being the romantic frame, the picture as spread out beforethe windows of the Palazzo Dandolo, now Royal Hotel Danieli, whichstands in the finest part of the Riva degli Schiavoni, is worthy of it, making an unequalled panorama, which extends from the Piazzetta with theMolo, the Columns, St. Mark's Church and the Doge's Palace away round tothe Public Gardens. The front, which is due south, faces the broad Basinof St. Mark, dotted with gondolas and boats of all kinds, and the broadlagoons, with their treasures and their mysteries. The red church of SanGiorgio Maggiore and the great dome of the Salute, reflect themselvesin the water to the right, backed, in the far distance, by the bluevolcanic hills of Padua: while to the left is Byron's island of SanLazzaro, and the long low banks of the Lido that defend Venice fromthe waves of the Adriatic. 

[Illustration: SMOKING-ROOM AND AMERICAN BAR]

[Illustration: PUBLIC DRAWING ROOM]

But the palace itself, famous in the history of Venice, having beenbuilt in 1400 by the great family of Dandolo (and which is now theRoyal Hotel Danieli), forms an integral part of the picture, for it isone of the most magnificent palaces of Venice; and we shall presentlygive our readers a historical sketch of it, which we trust will proveinteresting. Meanwhile we must mention that to this ancient andsumptuous palace, with its Atrium and Loggia, with its grand ducalstaircase, its ample reception halls, its «golden stairs», its roomsdecorated with stucco and precious carvings, its Sansovino ceilingbeams, its wooden mosaic floors, and its bifurcated windows and ogivalbalconies, which recall the history of Bianca Cappello, has been addeda second palace, equally large and imposing, but one built on purposefor a hotel. 

This second building is modern--modern in all its details, as we shallsee in due course. 

The exterior of these two palaces, of which the architecture presentsa remarkable contrast, can be admired in the following engraving. 

The building to the right of the spectator is the modern Palace, that onthe left the ancient Dandolo Palace--each splendid in its own style--andthe one in the distance is the famous Palace of the Doges. 

To describe the interior of these two handsome edifices is verydifficult, but the accompanying engraving, which represents the_Atrium_ of the Palazzo Dandolo, with its magnificent ducalstaircase, will give some idea of their beauty. Around this Atrium area number of fine halls and offices, with the water-gate opening on toa side canal with a marble landing-stage for the gondolas. Near to thewater-gate is the _Railway Office_ (a convenience possessed byno other hotel in Venice), where tickets can be taken and luggage beregistered without any trouble to the traveler. Next this is theluggage office. 

Opposite the land entrance is the _Porter's Lodge_, where one ormore porters are always to be found at the disposition of travelers. Onthe left hand is a _Post Office_ with, for the greater security ofall correspondence, a Government letter-box; and close by, the _Bureauof the Hotel_, with offices for the _cashier_, for _money changing_, and for _Bank business_. 

Opposite the grand stairs is a luxurious _Smoking Room_, its wallshung with rich material, and furnished in Oriental comfort and style, with an _American Bar_ leading out of it. Next it, are two spacious_Reading and Writing Rooms_, containing the principal newspapersand illustrated publications of the world. 

[Illustration: READING ROOM]

On the right hand of the main door is a large _Public DrawingRoom, _ style of 1700, with handsome stucco-work, and gilt furniturecovered with rich stuffs, with the hangings and wall-coverings all _ensuite_. This room alone would repay a visit to the hotel. Some ideacan be formed of it from the following engravings, though, of course, the full effect of its richness and color is lost. In the two palacesthere are a number of other such drawing-rooms, besides a concert hall, ballroom, music room and billiard room, &c. There are also bath roomsand douche baths on every floor. On the ground floor are the_kitchens_, the _wine cellars_, the _ice cellars_, the apparatusfor _heating_ the whole buildings by steam, thus spreading auniform temperature throughout the two Palaces. Here is also themachinery for the _lifts_, the centre for the distribution of the_electric light_ and the boilers and _syphons_ for giving _hot water_direct into all the apartments. All this deserves being examined fromthe novelty of the systems employed and from the exquisite order andtidiness which everywhere reigns. 

We will not describe the _bedrooms_ and _sitting rooms_, except to say that they have all been recently done up and richlyfurnished with the utmost artistic taste and are all lit withelectricity. Many of the apartments have been preserved in the originalstyle, especially the _Saloon of the Doges_, No. 9, which with theadjoining rooms, Nos. 10, 11 and 12, all of which overlook the Rivadegli Schiavoni and the magnificent panorama already described. 

The _wines_ and _the table_ are a great speciality of theHotel Royal Danieli, all being of the very highest order, and its_dining rooms_ and _restaurant_ arranged with small and separate tables, have an unusual character all their own. 

The _dining rooms_ are decorated in an entirely novel style and onethat is truly poetic. The great windows of ground glass are transformedinto eight lovely winter gardens of rare plants, which are reproduced inthe big mirrors which line the walls, and the electric light, whichhangs in delicate Venetian glass lily pendants round the ceiling, produces a most charming and unusual effect. 

The two great _restaurant_ halls are furnished in pure style of theEmpire, for all the stuffs and decorations are copied from the bestworks that treat of that period, and are among the richest and choicestof that famous epoch. 

Thus, by a series of ingenious combinations these two palaces, so differentfrom each other in many ways, blend themselves in one harmonious andartistic whole, and in them are united the greatest luxury with the utmostcomfort. 

[Illustration: SALON OF THE DOGES]

To give an idea of the whole we will imagine that a traveler is stayingin the apartment of the Doge--which recalls all the pomp and grandeurof old Venice--to go to the breakfast-room and restaurant we will passthrough the great Sansovino ball-room, then through the Rose saloon, bythe side of which is the music-room (style Empire), and the gallery oftapestry and majolica, and thus reaches the Empire decorated restaurantswhich we have already described. 

In the evening at dinner-time the traveler would, instead, descend bysuccessive steps, through a Renaissance vestibule, to the beautifulwinter garden dining-halls, which, especially when lit up by the softradiance of the electric lilies, makes a perfect fairy scene. 

Round the ball-room on the first floor runs an uncovered _loggia_, from whence one can look down into the court of honor, or VenetianAtrium, in which of an evening characteristic concerts are frequentlygiven. From the first floor the great «scala d'oro» conducts one to thesecond floor, where are the spacious concert-room and various handsomesuites of ancient and modern apartments. 

To the honor of the proprietors who have succeeded one another, be itsaid, that although from time to time certain works have been executedin this historic palace to adapt it to its new use as a hotel, yet notonly have the staircases, the saloons and the various apartments beenpreserved just as they were, but the artistic beauties and the historicsouvenirs have been carefully respected, the stuccoes and frescoesof the sixteenth and seventeenth century have been spared, and theportraits and heraldic shields of the Dandolos, the Bernardos and theMocenigos can still be admired to-day in their original positions. 

Although the use to which this Palace, which once occupied so large aplace in the glories of the history of Venice, has been put during thepresent century is very different from that which it was built, it hasalways been kept most worthily, first by Danieli, then by his daughterAlfonsina, the wife of Vespasiano Muzzarelli; then by his granddaughter, Giuseppina Roux, and, last, by S. S. Genovesi and Campi, so that it hadthe honor, which it still possesses, of being chosen by Emperors, Kings, Princes and Ambassadors, and by great men of all countries whoseartistic travels bring them to this incomparable city, so justly calledthe «Pearl of the Adriatic». 

The delightful impression made on those who inhabit the Hotel RoyalDanieli has been expressed over and over again to their friends, andthey have often said to the proprietors that they have rather felt as ifvisiting in the house of a friend, or in a princely mansion, than in anhotel, even though in the greatest hotel in the world. 

[Illustration: SANSOVINO HALL]

In this lovely palace the traveler feels _at home_. All is artisticand poetical. No long passages, painted in imitation marble, cold anddraughty, and dreary! No long endless tables and big red velvet divans, as in a cafe! No long rows of rooms in which the furniture is so muchalike that you cannot tell if you are in your own room or someoneelse's! Here is nothing conventional, nothing that is to be seeneverywhere--whether among the mountains of Switzerland or on theboulevards of Paris, and which makes the traveler's life monotonouswherever he may be. Here, on the contrary, he finds himself in anatmosphere of _home_, of comfort, and of suitability to hisposition, however exalted that may be, and one in keeping with hisromantic surroundings. 

This has been the aim of those who have directed the decorations of theHotel Royal Danieli, and they are happy in the thought that they havesucceeded to the satisfaction of the visitors. 

_To sum up_. The Hotel Royal Danieli, now entirely restored andembellished from ground to roof and decorated by the best Venetianartists, arranged with all the most modern appliances for comfort, can offer the following conveniences for travelers:--

 POST OFFICE. RAILWAY OFFICE. MONEY EXCHANGE AND BANKING OFFICE. TWO LIFTS. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN EVERY ROOM. STEAM HEATERS. BATHS AND DOUCHE BATHS ON EVERY FLOOR. STEAM BOILERS FOR HOT WATER. PRIVATE LAUNDRY. COURT OF HONOR, OR ATRIUM. READING-ROOMS. WRITING-ROOM. SMOKING-ROOM AND AMERICAN BAR. PUBLIC DRAWING-ROOM. LADIES' DRAWING-ROOM. CONCERT HALL. BALL ROOM. MUSIC ROOM. BILLIARD ROOM. RESTAURANT, AT EVERY HOUR. TABLE D'HOTE, AT SEPARATE TABLES, &c. , &c. 

[Illustration: STEPS AND RENAISSANCE VESTIBULE]

[Illustration: HALL OF THE WINTER GARDENS]

Table d'hote at separate tables, &c. , &c. , and all conducted accordingto the most modern systems of comfort and elegance. 

Although the present proprietors, Messrs. Genovesi, Campi, Bozzi& Co. , have spent a veritable fortune this year in restorations andembellishments, so as to render the Hotel Royal Danieli the mostcomfortable, the most artistic and the most aristocratic hotel inEurope, yet they have in nothing augmented the prices, but have retainedthose moderate rates which have helped to render the Hotel Danieli sofamous. 

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Nota bene--The ancient Palazzo Dandolo, now Hotel Royal Danieli, and allits internal arrangements, deserves a special visit from travelers whoare sojourning in Venice, and the proprietors will be most happy to showthe palace to all interested in the sights of Venice, whether they areresident in the hotel or not. 

[Illustration]