Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a late Gothic palace in Venice famous for its extraordinary external spiral staircase, the Scala del Bovolo ("bovolo" means snail shell in Venetian dialect). Tucked into a quiet courtyard between Rialto and Piazza San Marco, it is one of Venice's most surprising architectural discoveries. The oldest section of the palace dates to the 1300s, when the Contarini family of the San Paternian branch chose this location for its strategic position, roughly equidistant from the commercial hub of Rialto and the political center of San Marco. The palace functioned as a "fontego" house, a merchant's combined residence and warehouse, reflecting the practical architecture of Venetian aristocratic life before display became paramount. The facade once bore elaborate floral frescoes, fragments of which survive today. In 1499, Pietro Contarini commissioned the famous spiral staircase to enhance the palace's courtyard elevation. The building changed hands many times over the centuries. In the 19th century, a lodging-house keeper named Arnaux Marseille, nicknamed "il Maltese," ran the palace as a boarding house. Local legend holds that he inspired Hugo Pratt's comic character Corto Maltese. One of his guests, the German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel, discovered the C/1859 comet and the Merope Nebula of the Pleiades while observing the sky from the building's upper terrace. The palace is now owned by I.P.A.V. (Public Institutions of Venetian Assistance) and serves as their headquarters, with the staircase and exhibition rooms open to visitors.
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Updated 1 Nov 2026·Facts verified Nov 2026·1 cited source·How we research
Frequently Asked Questions
5 QuestionsWhat is Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?
It is a late Gothic palace in the San Marco district, famous for its external spiral staircase (the Scala del Bovolo). The building dates to the 1300s and belonged to the Contarini family. Today it houses exhibition spaces and the administrative headquarters of a Venetian social welfare foundation.
How much does it cost to visit Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?
Full-price admission is 9 EUR. Reduced tickets (7 EUR) are available for visitors aged 12 to 26, seniors over 65, and members of FAI, the Touring Club Italiano or TGS Eurogroup. Children under 12 and residents of the City of Venice enter free on proof of entitlement at the ticket office. A 15 EUR option covers private photoshoots and visits in carnival costume, and cannot be bought online. If the exhibition rooms are closed, a single 7 EUR fee applies to everyone who pays.
What is the Corto Maltese connection?
In the 19th century, the palazzo was run as a boarding house by Arnaux Marseille, known locally as "il Maltese." Venetian legend holds that this figure inspired comic artist Hugo Pratt to create his famous seafaring character Corto Maltese, though this remains unconfirmed.
What are the opening hours of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?
The official site publishes two seasonal timetables: 23 February to 25 October, daily 10:00 to 18:00 with last admission at 17:30, and a winter timetable of daily 9:30 to 17:30 with last admission at 17:00. It is closed on 25 and 26 December, opens 14:00 to 18:00 on 1 January, and closes at 16:00 (last admission 15:30) on 24 and 31 December. When checked in November 2026 the site had not yet published the dates of the 2026 to 2027 winter season, so confirm the timetable before travelling.
Is Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo worth visiting?
Yes. The spiral staircase is architecturally unusual, the rooftop panorama is wide, and the courtyard setting sits well back from the San Marco crowds. The visit takes about 40 minutes, and the building's history (merchant palace, then boarding house, then the vantage point for a comet discovery) gives it more to hold the attention than a single photograph.
