After 30 years of renovation, the one-time palace of the Contarini family has been opened to the public. Even if the trip up the 80 stairs is not on one's to-do list, this crisply white trimmed brick masterpiece is still eye candy for the passer-by. Located very close to Campo Manin (that great statue of a true Italian patriot with the Lion of St Mark at his feet), it still awes any and all who pass this way.
It was built at the end of the 15th century (late 1490's) as a "small" family palace. The "bovolo" part of the name translates as snail shell and this house is known as the "snail house."