Venice's Royal Palace Given New Lease of Life

A hidden gem in the heart of Venice has been given a new lease of life thanks to funding from a French heritage committee. For the first time ever, the royal palace built by Napoleon in 1807 in Piazza San Marco has opened its doors to the public.

Published

5 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society

Topics

Europe, History

Places

Italy, Venice

Transcript

SCRIPT: Tourists to Venice make a bee-line for St. Mark's basilica or its famous bell tower. But hidden in plain sight, on the city's most famous square, is a splendid palace. Built by Napoleon in the 19th-century, the royal residence was once home to the Austrian Empress, Sisi, as well as the last king of Italy. SOUNDBITE 1 Marc and Marie, French tourists (French, 13 secs): "We thought we'd find a museum full of paintings, but this is a nice surprise. We visited just by chance. The ballroom is very, very beautiful. All the rooms are magnificent. `It's very well kept and looked after." But it hasn't always been this way. The rooms had fallen into disrepair and many were being used as offices. It was only when a French heritage committee based in Venice raised the necessary funds that restoration got underway, and the rooms finally re-opened to the public this summer. SOUNDBITE 2 Andrea Bellieni, Head of the Correr Museum, in the wing of the palace (Italian, 17 secs): "The tapestries and furniture were faithfully copied from old inventories, historical texts and surviving objects from the apartments." In all, nine rooms out of 17 have been restored at a cost of some 2.5 million euros. The project began by restoring the reception rooms, from the ball room to the Empress' apartment. ((images of a door opening on other rooms in the palace which still need restoring.)) But work has yet to begin on the Emperor's rooms. The search is on to find new sponsors -- no mean feat in a period of financial crisis. Even if the spectacular results of the project so far have already convinced some potential investors. SOUNDBITE 3 Jerome Zieseniss, Head of the French Committee for the Conservation of Venice (French, 12 secs): "The budget is 800,000 euros. We have already begun, we have already found a big Russian sponsor who is going to adopt the Emperor's office, and a luxury fashion house which is likely to adopt one of the other rooms." In exchange for their donations, sponsors will have their names engraved on small plaques discreetly displayed in each room. Who will be the next benefactors? We should know by 2013, when the committee hopes to inaugurate up to three newly refurbished rooms, saving them from oblivion. SHOTLIST: VENICE, ITALY. 4 DEC 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR of Piazzza San Marco thronging with tourists - Shot of the belltower - VAR of exterior of the Correr Museum - Shot of the palace's ballroom SOUNDBITE 1 - VAR parts of the restored palace - VAR of visitors - VAR of paintings, ornaments and furniture SOUNDBITE 2 - VAR of visitors walking through the restored rooms - Shot of a man opening the door to the Emperor's rooms - VAR of cracks in ceiling SOUNDBITE 3 - Shot of sponsors' name plaques - VAR of statues and paintings - Shot of Jerome Zieseniss shutting windows in the palace