The fondaco (a word of Arabic origin meaning store-house) has a square plan on three levels facing a central courtyard. Now the courtyard is covered by a glass and steel structure.
The Piece Hall in Halifax has three floors facing a central square. Both have small rooms for selling goods, in Halifax it was pieces of wool on a Saturday morning between 9am and noon when the bell was rung to stop trading. Recently refurbished it's the last of it's kind in Europe.
But what similarities to the fandaco?
Now both are tourist attractions with shops!
Originally it was a cobbled courtyard, but has now been covered with Italian marble to make a social space and suitable for entertainment.
Views from the roof terrace.
The original banking area.
Ca' d'Oro
Towards San Marco.
Over the rooftops towards the Frari.
Just fallen over this record of your Venice stays - again, we were there at the same time, only - I think - we tend to stay longer. Venice is never stale, is it?
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