Venice’s Dark Secret: The Cursed Palazzo Ca’Dario
Venice, Italy, is world-renowned for its unique gondolas and the enchanting water city.
But within this aquatic wonder, there stands an ancient building, the Ca’Dario Palazzo, with a dark and tragic history… 
From the outside, this building might not seem much different from others.
(The palazzo from the outside)
But its black windows and ornate design catch the eye, especially as it floats on Venice’s waters, giving it a unique charm.
(The palazzo on Venice’s waters)
The history of this structure dates back to the 15th century…
(The palazzo in the 15th century)
Spanning 1,000 square meters, the palazzo was built in 1479 for the Venetian diplomat Giovanni Dario. Every corner of this opulent building was once adorned with splendor.
With five floors, marble floors, and a 170 square meter garden, which is a rarity in Venice, it was expected to be a historical landmark.
(The palazzo’s garden)
Originally thought to be a historical landmark, little did they know…
The trouble began as soon as the renovations were completed.
Rumors started to circulate that the building’s foundation was laid over a Templar cemetery, thus making it a haunted place…
The Knights Templar were established in Jerusalem between 1118 and 1119 to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the Middle Ages.
(Templar knights)
They first appeared in Venice in the 13th century, establishing monasteries to serve pilgrims and setting up headquarters in various locations, including abbeys and chapels.
(Templar monastery in Venice)
In 1312, Pope Clement V dissolved the order, and the last Templar was expelled from Venice due to a series of accusations.
After the death of its original owner, diplomat Giovanni Dario, his daughter Marietta and her husband Vincenzo moved into the house.
(Marietta and Vincenzo)
Later, Vincenzo was stabbed to death, and Marietta, overwhelmed by grief, took her own life. Their son was killed in an ambush.
Tragedy followed tragedy…
Fast forward to 1972, when rock icon Kit Lambert purchased the property for £115,000, three years after the release of The Who’s groundbreaking album “Tommy.”
Reports claim he had heard the ghost stories and was attracted to the house because of them. However, after moving in, he felt uneasy and often slept elsewhere.
(Kit Lambert at the palazzo)
Lambert later sold the house to Venetian merchant Fabrizio Ferrari.
In 1981, Ferrari, at the age of 45, died from a cerebral hemorrhage after falling down the stairs at his London home.
In the 1980s, Italian businessman Raul Gardini bought the palazzo and committed suicide in 1993.
(Raul Gardini)
Even filmmaker Woody Allen had considered purchasing the property but ultimately decided against it.
In 2006, an unknown buyer purchased it and began extensive renovations.
Lambert wasn’t the only member of The Who connected to the house.
In 2022, the band’s bassist John Entwistle rented the palazzo for a vacation, but just a week later, he suffered a heart attack and died in a hotel in Nevada.
The new owner, Fabrizio, decided to move in with his sister, who tragically died in a car accident.
(Fabrizio and his sister)
By 2022, this ill-fated palace was put up for sale again, this time for €18,000,000 (£15,038,010), but as of 2024, it remains unsold!
A spokesperson from the Italian real estate agency Romolini pointed out: “The dark stories behind it make it very difficult to sell…”
Well…
With the rumors of hauntings, most people would probably think twice before buying!
