Procuratie Vecchie (Old Procuracies), Venice

Located to the left of the Clock Tower ("Torre dell'Orologio"), the Old Procuracies building stretches forth. This magnificent structure was once the residence of the Procurators of San Marco, a prestigious position responsible for overseeing the maintenance of San Marco and the management of other government-owned properties. The number of procurators never exceeded nine, and they held the second-highest position in the Venetian hierarchy, following only the Doge, who often rose from their ranks. Alongside the Doge and the Grand Chancellor, who headed the civil service, the procurators held the exclusive distinction of being the only state officials elected for life.

Since the time of Doge Ziani, the procurators and their accompanying bureaucracies were situated on this side of Saint Mark's Square. The current building, however, was initiated around 1500 by Codussi, continued after a fire in 1512, and eventually completed around 1532 by Sansovino. Its most captivating architectural feature is the presence of 100 small round arches adorning the windows and the archways along the expansive veranda. Within these archways, you will now discover some of Venice's most renowned, historic, and upscale cafes.