Description
Palazzo Labia is a large Baroque palace in the Cannaregio sestiere, next to the church of San Geremia, where the Cannaregio Canal flows into the Grand Canal. Outside it is a sumptuous palace; inside it holds one of Giambattista Tiepolo's masterpieces.
The facades on the water rise from the rusticated ground floor to continuous balconies, grotesque masks and, at the top, the eagles of the Labia.
Inside, the ballroom is frescoed by Tiepolo with the story of Antony and Cleopatra, their meeting and their banquet, among painted architecture by Gerolamo Mengozzi-Colonna. The palace, home of the RAI since 1964, is not open to the public.
The Labia, who came from Spain, bought their patrician title in 1646 by paying for the War of Candia, and spent the rest on parties. Maria Labia is said to have lent her face to Cleopatra. In 1951 Carlos de Beistegui threw a costume ball here that became legendary, with Dalí, Orson Welles and gowns by Dior.
The facades on the water rise from the rusticated ground floor to continuous balconies, grotesque masks and, at the top, the eagles of the Labia.
Inside, the ballroom is frescoed by Tiepolo with the story of Antony and Cleopatra, their meeting and their banquet, among painted architecture by Gerolamo Mengozzi-Colonna. The palace, home of the RAI since 1964, is not open to the public.
The Labia, who came from Spain, bought their patrician title in 1646 by paying for the War of Candia, and spent the rest on parties. Maria Labia is said to have lent her face to Cleopatra. In 1951 Carlos de Beistegui threw a costume ball here that became legendary, with Dalí, Orson Welles and gowns by Dior.