PROCURATIE VECCHIE

In Venice's most famous square stands a palace that the whole world has admired from the outside for centuries. This former seat of power, whose Renaissance architecture helped shape the atmosphere of St. Mark's, has finally opened its doors to the public after five centuries of watching over the Serenissima from the shadows.
Since April 2022, after five years of restoration, this historic building has been unveiling its interior. Welcome to the Procuratie Vecchie (Old Procuraties), previously known only for the hundred or so windows and sublime arches of its façade. British architect David Chipperfield coordinated the project, which was carried out in collaboration with local craftsmen who are experts in enhancing traditional Venetian floors, walls and ceilings. Chipperfield and his team were able to restore the 12,000-square-meter building to its former splendor, when this charismatic palazzo housed the apartments of the Procurators.

During the Venetian Republic, these high magistrates, who assisted the Doges, were responsible for social affairs. It was in the Procuratie Vecchie that these officials were housed free of charge, a privilege of which they were well aware. According to historians, these magistrates even refused to receive any salary at all, as they considered their accommodation in itself sufficient compensation.

The restored building has clearly retained this moral and social fiber. Owned by the Generali Group, it now houses the offices of Human Safety Net, the Italian insurance company's humanitarian foundation. This NGO occupies the third floor, the only one almost completely accessible to visitors. Human Safety Net's mission is to support social inclusion, helping the most vulnerable individuals, particularly refugees, to regain their self-confidence and the means to develop their personal and professional potential.

Through exhibitions and interactive workshops, you will be invited to reflect on the expression of your own potential. Your admission ticket will help finance the foundation's solidarity projects. Discovering the Procuraties Vecchie is a unique and enriching experience, immersive and relevant, instructive and emotional. To explore the Procuraties Vecchie, a place where cultural heritage and social commitment come together, is to plunge into the living history of Venice while making a commitment to a better future.