Corte

Corte Cortese

A corte is a small open space. A standard corte is very similar to a Campiello however they typically have only one access point. There are several corti in Venice that break that rule, having generally two access points. Corte do not typically have any public amenities besides lighting and the occasional drinking fountain. There are 306 corti in Venice. (Fact check this)

Physical Characteristics 

The corte is considered the smallest type of public square in Venice. Like the campo and campiello, most corti historically had a well at their center, and were used as vegetable gardens by the families living around them. The well served as the primary source of freshwater for the surrounding households, making the corte not only a social space but a vital piece of neighborhood infrastructure. The enclosure of the corte by residential buildings on multiple sides gives it a more sheltered character, separating it from the more open and permeable campi and campielli. 

Relationship to Other Venetian Space Types

The corte sits at the smallest end of a hierarchy of open spaces that defines Venetian urban form. Venice's dense grid of pedestrian paths periodically opens into larger spaces such as campi, and more frequently into smaller spaces such as corti and campielli, which together make up the hidden fabric of the city

Modern Character and Relevance

Today, corti remain among the least visited spaces in Venice and retain much of their residential and intimate character. For Venetians, courts and courtyards still represent something intimate, unknown, and hidden from the main routes, and a tour among the corti and campielli can offer a discovery of a quieter and less visited Venice. Because corti are accessed through narrow passages and are removed from the main pedestrian flows that connect major landmarks and tourist destinations, they tend to experience far less commercial pressure than the larger campi. However, they remain relevant to any comprehensive survey of Venetian public space, as they represent the most localized and residential layer of a spatial hierarchy that stretches from the grand openness of Piazza San Marco down to these quiet, enclosed neighborhood courtyards.

Hotelgiorgione

See Also

• Campo
• Campiello

See Also

• Street
• Street Pavement

External Links

• Italian Wikipedia article on the Venetian corte