Fondaco dei Turchi

Fondaco dei Turchi

Fondaco dei Turchi, internal courtyard

Fondaco dei Turchi, front columns

The Fondaco dei Turchi (Venetian: Fontego dei Turchi, Turkish: Türk Hanı) is a palazzo in Veneto-Gothic style, later referred to as the Turks' Inn, on the Grand Canal of Venice, northeastern Italy.

It was once considered one of the most unique and curious buildings in Europe, a specimen of Italo-Byzantine architecture, however, it was modernised and almost rebuilt by the government in 1869.

Early history

c. 1860, before "restoration"

The palace was constructed in the first half of the 13th century by Giacomo Palmier, an exile from Pesaro. The Venetian Republic purchased it in 1381 for Niccolò II d'Este, the Marquess of Ferrara. During its early history, the palazzo also served as a residence to many visiting dignitaries.

Turkish quarters

From the early 17th century until 1838, the fondaco served as a residence for Venice's Ottoman Turkish population (hence "dei Turchi"). The fondaco (from Arabic: fonduk) functioned as a combination home, warehouse, and market for the Turkish traders, much like the Fondaco dei Tedeschi served as headquarters and restricted living quarters for German foreigners.

A number of restrictions were placed on the fondaco and its residents, including certain times one was able to enter and leave the fondaco, as well as on trading. Among other things, Venetian Turks imported wax, crude oil, and wool to the city. After the Venetian Republic was conquered and abolished by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797, the Turkish traders continued to live in the palazzo until 1838. The building was in a very bad state by the mid-19th century, and was completely restored between 1860 and 1880. Some innovations have been added to the original Veneto-Byzantine design: for example, there were originally no towers on either side.

Today

From 1890 to 1923, the area was home to the Museo Correr collection, which was moved to the Procuratie Nuove and Ala Napoleonica museums, at the Piazza San Marco, after 1923. Today, the area houses the Natural History Museum of Venice, with historical collections of flora and fauna, fossils, and an aquarium.

See also

• Venetian Ghetto
• Fondaco dei Tedeschi

References

• [1]
• [2]