The Gritti Palace has a rich and illustrious history, even by Venetian standards. It was commissioned in 1475 as the official family residence of Andrea Gritti, the doge or elected lord of Venice. It’s tough to imagine a more eminent address: the palace is located right on the edge of the Grand Canal with views of the Santa Maria della Salute church, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and Punta della Dogana, an old customs building that’s now an art museum.

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