Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Venice’s Hidden Gem
With all of its dark, narrow passageways and alleys to nowhere, Venice is a city built for hidden gems. I don’t pretend to know them all, but I do know one of the best: Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo!
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo fits the definition of a hidden gem in every sense of the word. It’s difficult to find. The square where it’s located is tucked away in a small corner of the city. It’s not nearly as visited as many of the well-known tourist attractions in Venice despite its inherent beauty and value.
(And, perhaps most importantly, people like me who have been there can talk about it like we’ve been to the greatest place ever and everyone else is missing out.)
Updated August 2026
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The History of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Venice’s Contarini family had the palazzo built by Giovanni Candi in the 15th century to be one of their residences throughout the city. Then, in 1499 another architect, Giorgio Spavento, had the spiral staircase built. It was this feature that would establish Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo as a historic landmark in Venice.
In more recent history, the palace and its staircase were used as prominent settings in Orson Welles’ rendition of Othello.
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What’s So Special About Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Two things make Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo worth visiting: the architecture and the views of the surrounding city.
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo’s Architecture
The first thing you notice when entering the square is just how dramatic this small palace is within this small residential area. It’s like an oasis in the middle of a desert. The residences are pretty like everywhere else in Venice is, but they’re nothing particularly special.
The contrast of the Renaissance, Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles with the more regular buildings creates a memorable scene. If the palazzo were in a more regal setting, I’m not sure it would have nearly the same impact.
That’s not to say the architectural design of the palace isn’t stunning by itself, though. The snail shell-like staircase with its many arches and alternating red and white colors is like something out of a fairy tale.
You may see the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo referred to as the Scala Contarini del Bovolo. Bovolo roughly translates to snail and scala to ladder. Together, Scala Contarini del Bovolo means ladder of the snail!
Views at the Top of the Stairs
This is the number one reason for your visit to Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Just the experience of climbing the 133 steps up the 28-meter staircase is exciting. It’s hard to not feel the presence of the past 500 years as you climb these tight, sometimes slippery stairs. For me, it’s always thrilling to be inside these historic buildings and to think about all those who came before me.
Apart from the fun climb, the views from the arches are remarkable. With each floor, the vantage point changes just enough to create new sights. Then, when you reach the top, you’re treated to some of the best views in Venice.
Multicolored rooftops stretch out from all sides with some of Venice’s most spectacular landmarks sticking out from below. You can see St Mark’s domes, the famous campanile, Salute Church and various other belltowers.
It’s a marvelous sight you won’t willingly walk away from!
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo’s Temporary Exhibit Hall
In addition to the spiral staircase, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo also features the Sala del Tintoretto. This space is used to feature temporary art exhibits from local Venetian artists and Tintoretto himself.
I only peeked my head in for a few seconds. It contained several abstract paintings of random streaks of paint. I’m personally not a fan of this type of art, so I didn’t need to linger long.
Still, the exhibits change periodically. It’s worth at least checking what’s on display since you paid for it. The exhibit room is small, too, making for a quick visit.
Finding Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Finding Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is part of the fun of visiting. That said, don’t expect to find exact directions here. I don’t want to ruin the adventure of looking for it!
Further, getting GPS directions on your phone is difficult because of all the tight passageways in Venice. These features give GPS units a fit.
Here are three tips that should help with your search, though.
- It’s located near Campo Manin.
- Be on the lookout for small signs on the sides of buildings pointing you in the direction of Venice’s landmarks.
- Go to the end of each passageway before turning around. The small square Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is in looks like a regular residential square until you walk into the open and then there it is in all its splendor tucked away in a corner!
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Visiting Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
You can book tickets for Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo ahead of time to reserve a time for your visit. Reservations cost €8 and are good for 30 minutes. Your ticket includes both the staircase and the temporary art exhibit.
When we visited, people were able to purchase tickets at the entrance, yet I still recommend going online to reserve a time just to be safe. This will also save you a bit of time when visiting since you won’t have to wait in line to buy tickets. Because it’s less touristed than other places in Venice, you should be safe reserving a time up to a day before your visit.
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Resources to Book Your Trip to Venice
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