Historic coffeehouse · Founded 1720 · Venice

Caffe Florian, Venice

Caffe Florian is a historic coffeehouse in the Procuratie Nuove arcade of Piazza San Marco, Venice. Founded in 1720 by Floriano Francesconi, it is the oldest coffeehouse in continuous operation in Italy and one of the oldest in the world. Over three centuries it has counted among its regulars Casanova, Byron, Goethe, Dickens, Proust, and Henry James, and it remains one of the most celebrated cultural interiors in Europe.

At a glance

Type: Historic coffeehouse and cultural monument
Period: Founded 1720; current interior decoration 1858
Style: Venetian Baroque and Rococo interior; frescoed rooms with gilded mirrors and plush banquettes
Location: Piazza San Marco, Venice, Veneto, Italy
Coordinates: 45.4336 N, 12.3360 E

Overview

Caffe Florian occupies a suite of intimate rooms along the ground-floor arcade of the Procuratie Nuove on the south side of Piazza San Marco. The cafe is named after its founder Floriano Francesconi, whose clientele nicknamed the establishment Florian from his given name. Today it continues to serve coffee, chocolate, and light meals to visitors from around the world, accompanied in season by the resident orchestra performing in the square outside.

History

Florian opened in December 1720 as Venezia Trionfante before taking its popular name. During the 18th century it became a meeting point for Venetian intellectuals, artists, and foreign visitors on the Grand Tour, remaining open even during the Austrian occupation when other cafes were frequented by occupying forces. The present decorative scheme — a series of themed rooms with painted allegories, mirrors, and velvet upholstery — dates from a comprehensive renovation in 1858 by Lodovico Cadorin. The cafe survived the closure of most Venetian cafes in the 19th century to become a symbol of the city itself.

What you see

The interior comprises several small rooms each decorated in a distinct allegorical theme: the Sala delle Stagioni, the Sala degli Uomini Illustri, the Sala Orientale, and others. Walls are lined with framed portraits, gilded plasterwork, and large mirrors that multiply the warm light from brass chandeliers. The outdoor terrace facing the Basilica di San Marco and the Campanile is among the most atmospheric in the world. Outdoor seating is available all year on the loggia and in summer in the square itself.

Cultural significance

Florian is listed as a national monument and is one of the defining images of Venice recognised globally. Its three-century unbroken continuity makes it a living document of European cafe culture and a reference point for art history, literary history, and Venetian social history. It appeared in works by Turner, Sargent, and numerous Romantic writers.

Practical information

Address: Piazza San Marco 57, 30124 Venezia VE
Hours: Open daily; check official website for current hours (seasonal variation)
Note: A small supplement (coperto musicale) applies when the orchestra is performing; indoor seating is somewhat less expensive

Getting there

Vaporetto: Line 1 or 2 to San Marco Vallaresso stop, then a short walk across Piazzetta San Marco. From Santa Lucia railway station, take Line 1 (approximately 35 minutes). On foot from the Rialto, follow the Mercerie south (approximately 10 minutes).

Sources and resources

Find it on the map

Google Maps See the location on a full map → Street View Walk around the place virtually → OpenStreetMap Free community cartography →

Caff&egrave; Florian was born in Venice in 1720 and in 2020 it turned 300 years old, it is the oldest place in the world.



Among the best known clubs in the world, beloved by the international jet-set, Caff&egrave; Florian in Piazza San Marco is a true institution, one of the few places where you can relive the sophisticated and dreamy atmospheres of turn-of-the-century cafes.



Used as a film set for many cult films, including &quot;Summertime&quot; with Katherine Hepburn and &quot;The talent of Mr Ripley&quot; with Gwyneth Paltrow, the oldest caf&eacute; in Italy, it was inaugurated under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove on 29 December 1720 with the name &quot;Alla Venezia Trionfante&quot;. In a short time it was unanimously renamed &quot;Florian&quot; from the name of the owner of the time, Floriano Francesconi, who was inspired by Goldoni for the character of Ridolfo, protagonist of the opera &quot;The coffee shop&quot;.



The things I love about San Marco are the ancient cafes that hide under the sixteenth-century arcades that surround the square.



Coffee culture has always been big business in Venice, ever since coffee was discovered in Turkey in the 16th century. Imported by traders, the new drink began to be sold commercially in the early 17th century. Cafes, the first in Europe, began to spring up all over the city.



From the outside you would never have suspected that the flaky, peeling facade houses one of the most elegant interiors in the city. And while the exterior boasts a classical orchestra, wood and leather furniture, and stunning views of the Cathedral, it&#39;s the cozy rooms inside that beckon.



Although today the place is obviously frequented mainly by tourists, it has played a huge role in the cultural life of Venice. Founded in 1720, it became the place to stop for a coffee. People like Carlo Goldoni, Casanova and Goethe talk about coming here.



It later became a literary haunt with Marcel Proust, Lord Byron and Charles Dickens sipping while reading the newspaper.



In the rooms of the Florian it seems to relive the past and it is not difficult to fantasize about the speeches of the illustrious visitors who preceded us, a fascinating atmosphere to which the beautiful rooms also contribute, where lights, mirrors, precious woods and decorations, a sort of museum where history lives on.



The second oldest caf&eacute; in Italy is the Caff&egrave; Greco in Rome, founded in 1760, forty years after the Caff&egrave; Florian.



Unique are the revolving tables, designed and created to facilitate the Ladies, customers who until 1800 had large, very bulky skirts.

https://culturalheritageonline.com/places/caffe-florian-in-venice-l3550/

#CulturalHeritage #CHO

Caffè Florian in Venice