Domenico Gradenigo

Domenico was a Venetian merchant and a nobleman who belonged to one of the oldest and noblest families of Venice.

In the historical records Domenico first appeared in 1205, in the period following the fall of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. The first period of his career included thirteen documented business trips into the different parts of the eastern Mediterranean, and it was replaced by more sedentary period as he approached to his late 30’s. Considerable sums of money were invested in his commercial ventures by women, both married and widowed, who apparently had a certain freedom in business matters.

Although he belonged to a prominent and influential Venetian family, he was not interested in politics and, so far as known, he didn’t hold any public function. Instead, he was engaged in the management of his properties in the city and its vicinity, such as fishing areas, salt pans and vineyards that he ran in partnership with his brothers.

Remaining childless, Domenico bequeathed the greater part of his estate to the Church and to charity.