Colleoni Monument

Bartolomeo Colleoni is one of the most famous condottieri the memory of whom was kept by the history of Venice. His acts of bravery helped Venice expand or preserve its dominion on the Mediterranean Sea in the 15th century, which is why this character remains one of the dearest historical figures for the Venetians. Bartolomeo Colleoni’s involvement in the welfare of Venice was proven not only by his reputation of true leader of the army, but also by the fact he also left Venice a consistent pecuniary heritage to be invested in the wars against the Turks. He complemented his substantial heritage with the request to have a statue built and showcased in Piazza San Marco.

The Venetians, however, strictly observed the policy of not letting any monuments of this kind be placed in Piazza San Marco, which is why, in order to honor both their policy and the will of Bartolomeo Colleoni, they had the statue built and placed it in Campo San Giovanni e Paolo, nearby Scuola Grande di San Marco, in the neighboring Castello. The model of the statue was realized by Andrea del Verrocchio in the 1480s, but the bronze was eventually cast by Alessandro Leopardi no sooner than 1496.

The Colleoni Monument depicts Bartolomeo Colleoni on horseback, and while it bears little resemblance to the real Bartolomeo Colleoni, it does render an iconic and idealized condottiero filled by his own power and sense of domination. Briefly put, this is a monument not to be missed out by the wandering visitors of Venice, driven either by the mere pleasure of sightseeing or by the curiosity to discover the historical heritage of the city to the full extent of its richness.

Name:

Colleoni Monument (Monumento di Colleone)

Address:

Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Castello, Venice, Italy