Hotel Palazzo Priuli was originally a 14th
century place, built for Procurator Giovanni Priuli in the
late fourteenth century by his nephew, Gerolamo Priuli, -
who went on to succeed his younger brother to the Ducal throne
- was among the first constructions in the city to emulate
some of the architectural innovations from the famous Doge's
Palace, that had been completed a few years earlier.
The
palace’s façade was originally frescoed
as underlying evidence of the wealth and stature of its owners,
and its construction is significant as being pivotal to the
period of the naissance of Venetian Gothic architecture.
The
illustrious Priuli family can count among them three doge’s
(leaders) of Venice fourteen procurators, and five cardinals.
Their
family history can be traced back to the time of Silvestro
Priolus, of Hungarian descent, who arrived in Venice circa
year 1000 on a mission for the King of Hungary, and took
up residency after being captivated by the beauty of Venice.
