Caffè Florian, Italy’s first coffeehouse founded in 1720 by Floriano Francesconi sits under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove in St. Mark’s Square. Originally a place for tasting hot chocolate drink, a symbol of wealth and luxury in the 1700s, it later became a popular coffee-house.
Here, in the 1800s, people would meet to discuss politics and culture in its pleasant atmosphere full of the aroma of freshly ground coffee.
The artist Pietro Longhi has left us some beautiful paintings reproducing the atmosphere. It also became a meeting place for Venetians wanting to rid themselves of Austrian rule.

In 1858 the architect Louis Cadorin created the four rooms still open to the public today: the charming Sala Orientale (Oriental Room) decorated with paintings of beautiful oriental women, the Sala delle Stagioni (Room of Seasons), the Sala degli Uomini Illustri (Room of the Illustrious Men) and the Sala del Senato (Senate Room).

Lord Byron, Giuseppe Verdi, Goethe, Charles Dickens and many other famous visitors all frequented Caffè Florian when staying in Venice.

1600 - 1700 - S. MARCO - rev. 0.1.14