The Palazzo Cappello Layard Carnelutti (or Ca’ Cappello Layard) is a historic building in the San Polo district of Venice. At present it serves as a university building. It is located at the corner of the Grand Canal and the Rio San Polo.
Palazzo Cappello Layard Carnelutti Venice
Address, opening times and entrance fee
The address of the Ca’ Cappello Layard is 30125 Venice. Vaporetto: San Toma’ SX (line 1 2, N). The building can only be viewed from the outside.
History and description
The Palazzo Cappello Layard was built in the 16th century. In the Renaissance period, a renovation took place, in which some Gothic elements (including the capitals decorated with floral motifs of the three arches of the loggia on the first bell floor) were kept intact.
There used to be, as can still be seen in paintings by Canaletto, a courtyard to the left of the loggia. The entrance gate on the Grand Canal side no longer exists either.
In the 19th century, the palazzo was purchased by the English ambassador Sir Henry Layard of Nineveh, who started a large art collection there. This was later bequeathed to London’s National Gallery by his widow.
The walls were also painted with frescoes by Paolo Veronese and others, but these were destroyed in a fire.
During World War I the building passed into the hands of the Carnelutti family and in 1967 it became the property of Ca’ Foscari University.
The coats of arms of the Cappello and Bembo families can be seen on the facade.