The Fondaco dei Tedeschi ("Warehouse of the Germans") is the former German trading post in Venice. The original building was built in 1228, but the current building, constructed between 1505 and 1508, replaced the earlier building after it was destroyed in a fire.
The ground floor, accessible from the Grand Canal, served as a warehouse facility, with offices and salesrooms on the first floor and accommodation for around 160 merchants on the second and third floors.
In the 20th century it served for several decades as Venice's central post office, until being sold to the Benetton group. Today it is Venice's premier upmarket department store.
Uploaded 2024-02-12T11:46:03+00:00