in the water to the right, backed, in the far distance, by the blue
volcanic hills of Padua: while to the left is Byron's island of San
Lazzaro, and the long low banks of the Lido that defend Venice from
the waves of the Adriatic.


[Illustration: SMOKING-ROOM AND AMERICAN BAR]


[Illustration: PUBLIC DRAWING ROOM]


But the palace itself, famous in the history of Venice, having been
built in 1400 by the great family of Dandolo (and which is now the
Royal Hotel Danieli), forms an integral part of the picture, for it is
one of the most magnificent palaces of Venice; and we shall presently
give our readers a historical sketch of it, which we trust will prove
interesting. Meanwhile we must mention that to this ancient and
sumptuous palace, with its Atrium and Loggia, with its grand ducal
staircase, its ample reception halls, its «golden stairs», its rooms
decorated with stucco and precious carvings, its Sansovino ceiling
beams, its wooden mosaic floors, and its bifurcated windows and ogival
balconies, which recall the history of Bianca Cappello, has been added
a second palace, equally large and imposing, but one built on purpose
for a hotel.

This second building is modern--modern in all its details, as we shall
see in due course.

The exterior of these two palaces, of which the architecture presents