News & Stories

Through the support of Save Venice’s dedicated community and a partnership with the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C., the Immediate Response Fund created after last autumn’s floods has grown to more than $700,000. We are inspired and humbled by the prompt response of more than 570 donors worldwide whose generosity has allowed us to provide funding to 22 sites throughout the Venetian lagoon.

The Galleria Giorgio Franchetti at the Ca’ d’Oro is just one of the sites where the IRF has made a meaningful impact. After the ground floor and courtyard were repeatedly submerged under several feet of corrosive seawater, Save Venice responded by supporting continuous rinsing and cleaning efforts, the desalination and conservation of marble and stone elements of the courtyard and staircase, the repair of damaged marble on the façade, and the cleaning and repair of brick and terracotta floors.

Conservators from the Seres firm are also focusing their efforts on the red Verona marble wellhead, which was carved by Bartolomeo Bon in 1427-28. With ornate decorations of figures of Justice, Fortitude, and Charity, each flanked by lions and surrounded by fine acanthus leaves, it is certainly one of the most beautiful wellheads in Venice. Treatment has begun with scientific analysis and test cleaning trials to determine the best methods to treat the delicate marble and protect it against future prolonged exposure to harsh environmental conditions.

We continue to invite your support for the Immediate Response Fund. Though 22 sites in the Venetian lagoon have already benefited from the IRF, the needs created by last year’s floods remain vast. Your gift to the fund helps ensure that Venice’s most vulnerable cultural sites receive the support they urgently require, and that each site is better equipped for the future.