Procuratie and the Ala Napoleonica

The Procuratie that run along the two long sides of Piazza San Marco were built as offices for the nine procurators (procuratori), whose positions were elective but permanent, and whose princely status was second only to the doge. Three were responsible for the upkeep of the Basilica and six were charged with maintaining the city on either side of the Grand Canal.

The buildings are not identical; the one adjoining the Clock Tower, the Procuratie Vecchie, was begun by Mauro Codussi in 1500 and finished by Sansovino some 30 years later, and is currently being restored under English architect Sir David Chipperfield; it will including re-opening the old path through Procuratie Nuove to the Giardini Reali, and renovating the gardens as well.

The Procuratie Nuove opposite were designed by Scamozzi and Longhena between 1582 and 1640. But they are close enough in appearance to continue the city’s motif of looking-glass reflections, which, when the piazza is flooded, becomes surreal, and you feel as if you’re inside a magic box. Nowadays the city rents out the Procuratie as shops.