Dating of the so-called Casa di Ezzelino il Balbo 'over the Malvasia arch' is difficult, due to the numerous renovations and changes that have reworked the appearance since its original construction. Some architectural motifs, such as the powerful arch, the division in two floors and the elegant double windows, closely resemble the style of the Palazzo del Consiglio, giving a plausible dating to the second half of the 1200s. In 1605, Andrea Salici, philosopher and theologian, wrote 'Azzolino the German built Palazzo di St. Lucia, where now there is the arch of Malvasia'. This is the only source that actually indicates the Ezzelini as owners of this great palace, which may have been formed by joining two earlier adjacent houses. During the 1300s the probable owners were the Carraresi, as suggested from property divisions carried out in 1363, following which Francesco the Elder left '... the grand home of St. Lucia, with many other adjoining houses...' to Marsilio and Nicolo. The construction of the mezzanine with low arch may have been carried out in this period, or more likely in the first half of the 15th century, altering the internal subdivision of the floors and providing the beautiful late gothic triple window with trilobed arches, overlooking Via Marsilio da Padova. The triple windows facing Via Santa Lucia are from the late 1400s, as is the nearby Casa Dondi. This house, with its elegant simplicity, is traditionally indicated as once belonging to the family of Jacopo and Giovanni Dondi.
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