Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Discover Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Last updated on September 13, 2026Architecture
The Scala Contarini del Bovolo, as the staircase is formally known, is built as a freestanding external spiral tower rather than an interior stair, a highly unusual solution for a Venetian palace of its period. Tiers of round-arched loggias wind upward around a central cylindrical core, blending Gothic and early Renaissance detailing.
The staircase connects to a covered arcade at the top of the palace, which opens onto a small rooftop terrace with views across Venice's rooftops toward the bell tower of St. Mark's and the domes of the city's churches.