the principle entrance, and the one on the Riva degli Schiavoni has
only been opened in recent years for the convenience of travellers.

We find confirmation of what has been said as to the date of the Palace,
and as to the family who built it, in the _Diary of Sanudo_, in
which he tells us that «on the 7th April 1498 the Prince of Salerno came
to Venice. A most brilliant reception was given him, great _festas_
were held in his honour, and he, and his suite of forty-four persons
were lodged in the Dandolo Palace of the _Calle delle Razze_».

Sanudo tells us again that «in 1499, this magnificent abode was
prepared, by order of the Republic, to receive worthily the French
Ambassadors».

We could cite many other historical passages proving that this Palace
had belonged to the Dandolo family, but one more, and a very interesting
one, must suffice. In _Sanudo's Diary_ we read again «On the
evening of the 21 February 1531 the orator Cesareo, in the Palace
Dandolo, Calle delle Razze, on the quay, gave a very great feast, with
fireworks concerts, and illuminated boats, Spanish fashion, on the Canal
of St. Mark's, on the occasion of the elevation of the king of Hungary
and Boemia, to the dignity of a King of the Romans».

This historic Palace passed from the Dandolos to the Gritti family, in
1536, by a deed of sale; and it is not without interest to note that to
distinguish it from others of the same name, it is called in the deed,
«that Palazzo Dandolo in which generally abides the Ambassadors of
France».