Ca' Loredan was built in the 13th century as a Venetian-Byzantine fondaco for the Boccasi family, which died out in the 15th century. According to some historians, it became the residence of
Doge Jacopo Contarini after he retired to private life, and passed to the Zane family. In the following centuries it was enlarged and heavily modified, by the
Cornaro Piscopia family, who took possession of it during the fourteenth century according to the will of
Federico Corner, the richest merchant of his time. The most significant restructuring was carried out during the sixteenth century. In 1646,
Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was born there, a philosopher, who went down in history for being the first female graduate in history: she received this title on 25 June 1678. The event, which had a wide international impact, is commemorated by a marble plaque. In 1703 it became the home of the
Loredan family, who obtained it thanks to a marriage between a daughter of Girolamo Corner and Giovanni Battista Loredan. It became the property of Countess Campagna Peccana in 1816 and was transformed into a hotel. In 1867 it passed to the municipality of Venice and became the seat of the city hall together with
Ca' Farsetti. == Architecture ==