Portego ("porch" in Venetian dialect) is a characteristic compositional element of the Venetian civil buildings built during the years of the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
. The portego is similar to a reception hall but has peculiar features.
History
The portego is known from the ancient times; it is present even in the oldest Venetian palaces. In later centuries and especially during the emergence of the
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of Ancient Greece, ancient Greek and ...
, the portego original central structure has changed substantially, allowing for T-shaped and L-shaped halls.
Function
In a typical Venetian palace, the portego is the local passage hall that joins the water portal with the land portal. On the ground floor, it serves as an entrance hall for loading goods, while on the upper floors the portego is used both as a reception hall and as a passing hall to access other rooms, located on both sides. Furthermore, the portego was crucial in providing ventilation and air circulation for the palazzo which, especially during medieval summers, allowed for respite from the humid weather and smells emitted from the often sewer infested waterways of Venice.
Architecture
Usually, the portego joins the water portal and the ground portal and may pass through the court. This large room is usually decorated by a multi-light
polifora
Polifora is a type of the multi-light window. It appears in towers and belfries on top floors, where it is necessary to lighten the structure with wider openings. The term ''polifora'' usually refers to the window with at least five parts.
Overv ...
, its size depending on the width of the interior.
In the traditional palazzo, for example
Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore, the staircase is placed at the portego.
Gallery
Ca' Rezzonico (Venice) - Portego.jpg, Portego of Ca' Rezzonico
(Venice) Ca' Pesaro - Portego - view from the entrance on the grand canal towards the inner courtyard.jpg, Portego of Ca' Pesaro
Palazzo querini stampalia, portego 02.jpg, Portego of Palazzo Querini Stampalia
Palazzo grimani di s.m. formosa, portego 02.jpg, Portego of Palazzo Grimani di Santa Maria Formosa
Ca' d'oro, portego del piano nobile 01.JPG, Portego of Ca' d'Oro
See also
*
Sotoportego
References
{{Reflist
Buildings and structures in Venice
Architectural design
Rooms
Architectural elements