View source for Portego

[[File:Hotel Ca Sagredo - Grand Canal - Rialto - Venice Italy Venezia - Creative Commons by gnuckx (4710739325).jpg|300px|right|thumb|The portego of [[Palazzo Morosini Sagredo]] terminates with the monumental staircase designed by [[Andrea Tirali]] ]]
'''Portego''' ("porch" in Venetian dialect<ref>{{cite web |title=Portego |url=http://www.portego.it/ |publisher=portego.it |accessdate=2 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>) is a characteristic compositional element of the Venetian civil buildings built during the years of the [[Republic of Venice]]. The portego is similar to a reception hall but has peculiar features.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portego |url=https://carezzonico.visitmuve.it/en/il-museo/percorsi-e-collezioni/first-floor-2/portego/ |publisher=[[Ca' Rezzonico]] |accessdate=2 July 2020 |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The most famous type of architecture in Venice is Venetian Gothic which originated in the 14th century |url=https://www.wallswithstories.com/ancient/the-most-famous-type-of-architecture-in-venice-is-venetian-gothic-which-originated-in-the-14th-century.html |website=Walls with Stories |accessdate=2 July 2020 |language=en |date=4 July 2017}}</ref>
==History==
The portego is known from the ancient times; it is present even in the oldest Venetian palaces. In later centuries and especially during the emergence of the [[Venetian Renaissance architecture|Renaissance architecture]], the portego original central structure has changed substantially, allowing for T-shaped and L-shaped halls.
==Function==
In a typical Venetian palace, the portego is the local passage hall that joins the water portal with the land portal. On the ground floor, it serves as an entrance hall for loading goods, while on the upper floors the portego is used both as a reception hall and as a passing hall to access other rooms, located on both sides.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Steane |first1=Mary Ann |title=The Architecture of Light: Recent Approaches to Designing with Natural Light |date=2012 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-135-65588-4 |page=68 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4MXfCgAAQBAJ&q=portego+architecture&pg=PA68 |accessdate=2 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Furthermore, the portego was crucial in providing ventilation and air circulation for the palazzo which, especially during medieval summers, allowed for respite from the humid weather and smells emitted from the often sewer infested waterways of Venice.
==Architecture==
Usually, the portego joins the water portal and the ground portal and may pass through the court. This large room is usually decorated by a multi-light [[polifora]], its size depending on the width of the interior.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goy |first1=Richard J. |title=Venetian Vernacular Architecture: Traditional Housing in the Venetian Lagoon |date=2011 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-15490-1 |page=157 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zeongbkpoCwC&q=portego+architecture&pg=PA157 |accessdate=2 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In the traditional palazzo, for example [[Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore]], the staircase is placed at the portego.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Ca' Rezzonico (Venice) - Portego.jpg|Portego of [[Ca' Rezzonico]]
(Venice) Ca' Pesaro - Portego - view from the entrance on the grand canal towards the inner courtyard.jpg|Portego of [[Ca' Pesaro]]
Palazzo querini stampalia, portego 02.jpg|Portego of [[Palazzo Querini Stampalia]]
Palazzo grimani di s.m. formosa, portego 02.jpg|Portego of [[Palazzo Grimani di Santa Maria Formosa]]
Ca' d'oro, portego del piano nobile 01.JPG|Portego of [[Ca' d'Oro]]
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Sotoportego]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Venetian Gothic architecture]]
[[Category:Architectural design]]
[[Category:Rooms]]
[[Category:Architectural elements]]