Venice, Italy, is world-renowned for its charming gondolas and beautiful canals. However, nestled among the canals stands a historic building, Ca’Dario Palazzo, which has a dark and eerie story that has captivated many. Although it appears like a typical Venetian palace, its history is far from ordinary.
The Origins of Ca’Dario Palazzo
The Ca’Dario Palazzo was built in 1479 for the Venetian diplomat Giovanni Dario. Located in Venice, this grand building covers over 1,000 square meters and was designed with luxury in mind. The interior features marble floors and a 170-square-meter garden, which was a rare sight in Venice. The building stands tall with five floors, and every corner was once lavishly decorated.
But soon after the mansion’s completion, rumors began to circulate about the foundation. Some claimed that the building stood on top of a Templar Knights_ cemetery, which led many to believe that it was haunted. 
The Knights Templar were an order founded between 1118-1119 in Jerusalem, aimed at protecting Christian pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. They eventually spread across Europe, including Venice. The order was disbanded in 1312 by Pope Clement V. Many of their possessions were seized, and their final members were expelled from Venice.
A Series of Tragic Events
After Giovanni Dario’s death, his daughter Marietta Dario and her husband, Vincenzo, moved into the mansion. But tragedy struck when Vincenzo was fatally stabbed, and Marietta, overcome with grief, took her own life. Their son was later killed in an ambush. The Dario family’s tragic fate seemed to curse the mansion.
In 1972, rock legend Keith Lambert bought the mansion for £115,000. At the time, Lambert had heard about the building’s haunted reputation and was intrigued by the stories. However, once he moved in, he became uncomfortable and often slept elsewhere. Eventually, Lambert sold the house to Venetian businessman Fabrizio Ferrari.
More Deaths and Unsettling Events
In 1981, Keith Lambert, the frontman of the famous rock band The Who, fell down the stairs in his London home. He tragically died from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 45. The curse of the Ca’Dario Palazzo seemed to continue.
By the 1980s, the mansion was purchased by Italian businessman Raul Gardini, who later took his own life in 1993. It seemed as though no one could escape the tragic legacy of the mansion.
Hollywood’s Close Call with Ca’Dario Palazzo
Famed filmmaker Woody Allen once considered purchasing the property but ultimately decided against it. In 2006, an anonymous buyer bought the mansion and began large-scale renovations, but the building’s haunted history still loomed large over the property.
The Who’s Continued Connection to Ca’Dario Palazzo
The mansion’s dark tale didn’t end there. In 2022, John Entwistle, the bassist of The Who, rented the house for a vacation. Sadly, just a week later, Entwistle died of a heart attack in a hotel in Nevada.
The mansion’s new owner, Fabrizio, decided to move in with his sister. Tragically, she died in a car accident shortly afterward.
The Mansion’s Curse Persists
In 2022, the mansion was listed for sale at €18,000,000 (approximately £15,038,010), but by 2024, it had not yet sold. Romolini Real Estate, an Italian real estate agency, stated that the mansion’s dark and tragic history has made it extremely difficult to sell.
Given the reputation the property has for misfortune, it’s no surprise that prospective buyers are hesitant to take it on. The whispers of hauntings and the untimely deaths of those who have lived there seem to make the Ca’Dario Palazzo more of a legend than a luxury home.
Will Anyone Dare to Buy?
With a history filled with death, betrayal, and tragedy, the question remains: who would be brave enough to buy such a cursed property? Will anyone be willing to take on the mansion’s haunted legacy, or will the Ca’Dario Palazzo forever remain unsold? Only time will tell.
