House of Donà
The House of Donà is an old patrician family of Venice which produced three doges of Venice. The family has existed since at least the late twelfth century. Until the sixteenth century, the family were merchants. During that period, they bought land, which supported the family through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Around and throughout the nineteenth century, the family's wealth was significantly diminished due to the influences of the French Revolution and industrialisation.
The dalle Rose branch of the family, which produced two of the Donà doges of Venice, survives to this day. In the second half of the twentieth century, the Donà dalle Rose included a number of businesspeople, most notably the founders of the Costa Smeralda’s Porto Rotondo, brothers Luigi and Nicolò Donà dalle Rose.
Members
Notable members of the dalle Rose branch of the family have included:- Pietro Donà: archbishop, humanist, and patron of art
- Girolamo Donà: diplomat, historian, and humanist
- Francesco Donà: 79th Doge of Venice
- Leonardo Donà: 90th Doge of Venice; also Venetian Ambassador both in the Vatican and in Constantinople, as well as a supporter of Galileo Galilei
- Pierdonato Donà dalle Rose: World War II aviator decorated with the Gold Medal of Military Valor
- Nicolò Donà: 93rd Doge of Venice
Seats
The family has had a number of seats, including:- Palazzo Donà dalle Rose
- Palazzo Donà Brusa
- Palazzo Donà Balbi
- Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
- Palazzo Donà-Ottobon