In 1720 Floriano Francesconi has opened the ‘bottega da caffè’ under the arcades of Procuratie Nuove near Campanile on San Marco square.
The caffè, at first named ‘Venezia Tiromfante’ in the short time became the popular meeting place and known under the owners name: ‘Florian’s Caffè’.
Located in the heart of Venice ‘Florian’s’ vitnessed many of great events in the towns history and became the cradle of a few by itself, like at the time when at Senate Room of caffè Ricardo Selvattico with the friends developed the idea of Venice Biennale – famous to the present times art exhibition.
One of the first Italian newspapers – Gazzetta Veneta could be bought here, and many of both local and travellers sat around the tables, among the famous ones are :
Lord Byron,Goethe, Charles Dickens, Marcel Proust, Stravinsky nad Modigliani.
The unique atmosphere of the place gave inspirations to works of playwrighter Carlo Godoni, and ( a bit different in the kind) to famous Casanova, as at his times ‘Florian’ was the only local that admit women.
There are different in style rooms, most of them bring back atmosfere of 19th century fin-du-siecle: there is the ‘Senate Room’, the ‘Room of Illustrious Men’ (Salla degli Uomini Illustri) as many of prominent men met here, ‘Room of Seasons’ ( Salla degli Stagioni) and ‘Il Ristorante’ from 1930’s.
Some of the rooms feature also the temporary art exhibitions, at present two : ‘Temporanea’ and ‘Unica’ promoting the works of modern Italian artists.
Caffè Florian often becomes the owner of the works formerly exhibited there, and frequently lends the items from its private collection to the museums worldwide, like Centre Pompidour and Guggenheim in New York.
The summer evening concerts played by the resident ensemble bring even more charm to this unique place.
[ photo : courtesy of dalbera]
Caffè Florian
Tel: +39 (0) 41.520.5641
Mail: @caffeflorian.com
Address:
Piazza San Marco 56 – 59
30124 Venezia
Italy
Guides: venice
