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Venice is beautiful and full of things to do but now there is one brand new: il Fondaco dei Tedeschi!
First constructed in 1228, and located at the foot of the Rialto Bridge on the Canal Grande, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi is one of Venice’s largest and most recognizable buildings with 7.000 square meters.
It was built in 1228, twice destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1506, it was used as a trading post for German merchants, a customs house under Napoleon, and a post office under Mussolini.
In 2008 Edizioni company, from the Benetton group, bought it for 53 millions of euro and entrusted the renovation to the archistar Rem Koolhaas and OMA architecture studio.
Now the Fondaco, reopened last October, is a department store of luxury signed DFS, the world leader in duty free of LVMH group (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
We can discuss for hours about the right or not of the transformation and invasive intervention. I saw the Fondaco in person and I can only congratulate with architects for the beautiful project. Brass panels, stone, sophisticated lighting, Venetian terrazzo, marble tables which seem covered with fabric, rugs … they managed to make “beautiful” even the escalators!
The best part? On the top floor: the terrace offers a breathtaking 360 ° view of Venice! Access is free!
Cafeteria and restaurant are designed by Philippe Starck (who lives in Venice, precisely in Burano!): AMO, Massimiliano Alajmo is the youngest chef awarded three Michelin stars in the world!
Really a place to visit the next time you’ll be in Venice!
Foto Delfino Sisto Legnani – Marco Cappelletti