Hidden jewels of Venice : The snail house.

If you look over the rooftops of Venice from a high vantage point, such as the bell tower of St Mark’s, you will see a beautiful and curious round brick tower decorated with a series of white arches.
It’s the Scala Contarini del Bovolo , literally, the staircase of the snail”.
Although external staircases were the norm in Venetian houses of the 14th and 15th centuries, this staircase stood out from the crowd in terms of its size and shape.
After the 16th century staircases were generally sited inside the houses. The staircase of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is connected to the main structure by a beautiful side addition made up of four loggias and leads to an arcade, providing an impressive view of the city roof-tops. This palazzo can be visited with a 5€ entrance. The design of the Palazzo is attributed to Giovanni Candi and Giorgio Spavento is believed to have been responsible for the addition of the grand spiral staircase on the exterior in 1499.
The palazzo is located in a small and quiet calle near Campo Manin very close to the Rialto and Campo Santo Stefano.
The Palazzo del Bovolo was chosen by Orson Welles as one of the main locations for his 1952 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello and the staircase is prominently featured in the film.
From Venice With Love,
Giada
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