Historical note

During XVII century the square was enlarged with the demolition of the Orseolo Hospital and the construction of the Procuratorie Nuove under the project of Sansovino that gave the new guideline.
The west side of the building end at the new church of San Geminiano that in this way remains between the classical

arches of the Procuratorie Nuove and the Venetian byzantine arches of the Procuratorie vecchie.
During the Napoleonic domination in the XIX century the Procuratorie Nuove become the Palazzo Reale, San Geminiano church and five arcades of Procuratorie Vecchie were demolished to build the Napoleon wing.

 

Restoration

in partnership with Gerso – Restauro opere d’arte

The conservation aim to remove only the layers that was the alteration of materials and not compatible with the stone that could be cause of more degeneration with time, maintaining the visual material perception of the monument.
The material used for this was specifically formed in order to be compatible with the chemical structure of the existing materials, giving priority to methodology that allow the restorers to be able to be gradual, selecting and that can control the reaction step by step.

A very soft wash of the stone was the first things and then with chemical method for the deposit of crusts.
For the most delicate parts the use of cotton soaked in inorganic salt and ammonium bicarbonate was used with attention and slow process. These stone was cleaned with a deep and important operation including also structural support by stainless steel insert, covered by an aesthetical colour and protected to avoid future external corrosion.