Palazzo Mocenigo Grand Canal

Lord Byron's residence

For sale for the first time in over 75 years is the beautiful piano nobile apartment of the Palazzo Mocenigo on the Grand Canal in Venice, famous as the Venetian residence of the English Romantic poet Lord Byron.

The Palazzo Mocenigo, built around 1579 for the Doge Alvise Mocenigo, is of huge architectural importance. Characterized by a continuous succession of forms, with the façade's tripartitian repeated twice, the tall piano nobile stands upon a low ground floor and an important mezzanine floor. The main floor lines up the Serlian window of the hall with the water portal, while all of the windows are surmounted by rectangular forms enclosed in marble slabs which bear the image of St Mark’s lion carved in relief.

From the central androne the private staircase leads to the main piano nobile floor via the huge classical portone entrance attributed to Alessandro Vittoria. The large ingresso (entrance hall) has an original beamed ceiling and large central table. From this room double doors lead variously to the library, the dining room and the main Sala Rosa drawing room with balcony onto the Grand Canal. This room has Louis XVI rose and cream stucco marmorino walls, stucco ceiling and Venetian terrazzo flooring. On the right hand wall a monumental gilded fondo sala with mirrors dominates the room reflecting the delicate colours of the decoration and the other palazzi on the Grand Canal. Four internal marble portici balance the room which is lit by two stunning original chandeliers. Large doors open back on to a balustraded balcony overlooking the Grand Canal.

The separate dining room is cool and delicate, with original 18th century stucchi.

To the right of the Sala Rosa and also overlooking the Grand Canal is the Byron Room – a vast entertaining room with original 16th century beamed ceiling, green marmorino walls and a complete decorative marble floor incorporating the Mocenigo coat of arms. Above the fireplace is a stunning grey decorative stucco panel dominating the Grand Canal end. An original 19th century print of this room shows Byron seated at his desk gazing upward to the decorative frieze, lost in thought.....

The main camera/studio, overlooking the Grand Canal, has a frescoed ceiling of Guarana (1700) with mythological subjects, and Venetian terrazzo flooring in decorative style. An ornamental balcony overlooks the room.

From the main entrance lead three further bedrooms and bathrooms overlooking the rear gardens of the Palazzo. The master bedroom has a frescoed ceiling and is decorated with stucchi. The walls are covered with evocative 18th century silk and there is a decorative fireplace. The en suite bathroom dates from the 40s and is decorated from that period with green mosaic and marble.

Two further bedrooms with bathrooms complete the accommodation on the main piano nobile floor. A separate staircase leads to a large laundry room on the mezzanine level and then to two bedrooms and a further bathroom on the upper floor.

This exceptional property incorporates Venetian decorative features of the highest level, is of huge historical and literary importance, and yet is also a comfortable home. It is hard to imagine a more desirable property in a more fabulous location. Byron chose well.

Piano nobile: 522 m²
Upper rooms: 200 m²
Total: 722 m²

• See more: Pictures - Floorplan

Sala Rosa

Sala Rosa

Studio

Master bedroom

Important note: These particulars do not constitute any offer of contract. All statements contained herein are made without responsibility on the part of the seller, their representatives and/or their agents and should not be relied upon as statements or representation of fact. Intending purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of particulars.