Venice "Cooking School for Lovers" at the Gritti, Part II

And so we danced

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There was no orchestra, there were no musicians

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We danced in the Grand Ballroom of the Ca' Rezzonico, Venice, Italy

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Ca' Rezzonico was, for a short time, the home of Robert Basset Browning, whose father, Poet Robert Browning died there.

John Singer Sargent and Whistler rented a floor or two.

In 1927 Linda and Cole Porter lived in part of the Palazzo.  They paid $3,000 for the privilege.

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We were given a private tour of the Palazzo.  To visit Ca' Rezzonico is to truly understand and get a glimpse of life in Venice in the 18th century.

The Palazzo was the home of the Rezzonico Family.

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Reconstructed Tiepolo Room at Ca' Rezzonico

Today it is the home of the Museo del Settecento.  It retains the feel of an old Venetian Palazzo, packed with period furniture and tapestries in gilded salons.  It even has a restored apothecary complete with powders and potions.

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Tiepolo

The Palazzo is adorned with Frescoes by Crosato, Giambattista, Tiepolo and other notable painters of the time.

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Tiepolo, "The meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra"

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were given a Masked Ball at the Ca' Rezzonico.  They danced in the Great Ballroom... to

orchestra and musicians present

Bruegel the Elder

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It startled the security guards (who were hired for our private visit to the Palazzo) and it surprised our guides as

Gene and I took a turn around the grand ballroom floor, humming a Viennese Waltz

Now back home, before we do more damage, to the bar at the Grand Gritti Palace Hotel

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