Palazzo dei Dieci Savi is a palace on the Canal Grande, Venice

Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

, northern Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. It is included in the sestiere

Sestiere

A sestiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from sesto, or sixth; and is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example are the sestieri of Venice, but Ascoli Piceno, Genoa, Milan and Rapallo, for example, were also divided into sestieri...

(quarter) of San Polo

San Polo

San Polo is the smallest of the six sestieri of Venice, northern Italy, covering 86 acres along the Grand Canal. It is one of the oldest parts of the city, having been settled before the ninth century, when it and San Marco formed part of the Realtine Islands...

, and is not far from the Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is the oldest bridge across the canal, and was the dividing line for the districts of San Marco and San Polo.- History :...

, on the opposite side than the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi

Palazzo dei Camerlenghi

Palazzo dei Camerlenghi is a Renaissance palace in Venice, northern Italy, located in the sestiere of San Polo. It faces the Canal Grande, near the Rialto Bridge.-History:...

.

It was built in the firs half of the 16th century, under design of Antonio Abbondi

Antonio Abbondi

Antonio Abbondi generally known as Scarpagnino was an Italian architect of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Venice.Born at Grosio, in Valtellina...

. It was the seat of the Dieci Savi alle Decime, the magistrate who cared the finances of the Republic of Venice

Republic of Venice

The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...

, maintaining this function until the end of the latter in 1797. It currently houses the city's Water Officers.

Description

The palace has a longer façade on the Ruga (alley) degli Osei and a shorter one on the Canal Grande. The former has a portico with 37 arcades, whose ceiling, with cross vaults, is covered by frescoes, most of which are preserved in a good state.

The two upper floors, divided by two thick frames, feature 37 mullion

Mullion

A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...

ed windows with undecorated stone frames. At the top, is a notched frame in correspondence with the attic. The façade on the canal is similar: it has four arcades at the bottom and five couples of rectangular mullioned windows at the upper floors.

The two only decorative elements are 16th century statue of the Justice (second floor) at the corner, and a bas-relief with a Lion of St. Mark (1848), dating to the short lived Republic of St. Mark (1848).