Palazzo Marcello

The palace on Rio de Verona belongs to Count Girolamo Marcello, a representative of one of Venice’s most prominent patrician families. His ancestors include a doge and two composers, one of whom, Benedetto Marcello, gave his name to the Venice Conservatory.

Joseph Brodsky stayed here during his visits to Venice in the latter days of his life. His friend Maria introduced him to Marcello, and they became friends. Here he wrote a proposal for the creation of the Russian Academy in Rome.

On Brodsky`s recommendation, his good friend an American geologist Peter Vail met with the count and visited the palazzo. He recalls it to be a powerful experience, as he found himself inside a real Venetian palazzo. On the first floor, which was uninhabited, there was a gondola cabin, a felce. According to Venetian tradition, the boat itself is owned by the gondolier, while the nobleman owns this cabin, which bears the heraldic symbols of the family and lineage.

Brodsky also wrote a poem dedicated to the owner that starts with the line “the sun is setting and the bar on the corner has already closed”. There is a trattoria in the yellow building on the corner in front of the palazzo – may be the bar in question. Grab a drink there if it isn`t closed yet!