Grimani

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Grimani coat of arms
Palazzo Grimani
Interior view of the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo , 1709

Grimani is the name of a Venetian patrician family who played a major role in Venice's activities in the Levant . In the 15th and 16th centuries, its representatives were at the zenith of their influence. Three Doges of Venice and several Patriarchs of Aquileia emerged from the ranks of the Grimani . They are therefore counted among those 16 families that are referred to as the "ducal houses" (case nuove ducali) , although of course they did not have this rank hereditary, but only in the person of the respective elective duke (see: patriciate of Venice ).

Girolamo Grimani had the Palazzo Grimani built from 1556 , a late work by the architect Michele Sanmicheli . Different branches of the Grimani family owned eight other palaces from different eras in Venice, six of which still exist today.

Vincenzo Grimani married Marina Calergi in 1608, the heir to Vettor Calergi, who had acquired the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi in 1589 . The Calergi were an old Venetian patrician family of Greek origin and wealthy in Crete , in the Venetian colony Duchy of Candia , which existed from 1212 until the Turkish conquest in 1669 . In 1739 the palace and some country villas were inherited by Niccolò Vendramin , who took the name Vendramin-Calergi .

The Grimanis built several opera houses in Venice, the Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo in 1639 , the Teatro San Samuele in 1656 (initially primarily for theatrical performances) and in 1678 the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo , all of which contributed significantly to the heyday of Venetian opera. In 1755 they built the Teatro San Benedetto for dramatic operas.

Well-known namesake

See also