The Brembo nobles - a family of saints, theologians and military heroes including Duke Giovanni Brembo who vanquished the Usocchi pirates - has this sumptuous palazzo built at the end of the fourteenth century after fleeing from Bologna during the barbarian invasions. It is an elegant example of Venetian-Gothic style highly influenced by the Moorish architecture the Venetian tradesmen absorbed during their travels in the Middle East. Giuliano dei Medici, brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent, stayed here in 1510 when he came to Venice to heal.
They built this Palazzo at the Riva del Carbon on the Grand Canal where they unloaded the carbon they imported and sold.