Barbacani are protruding wooden beams used to extend the first floor of buildings while leaving more space for passage in the narrow alleyways (calli).
To prevent people from taking advantage and expanding too much on the upper floors, the Republic placed a marble barbacano at Calle della Madonna 574, near the Rialto Bridge.
This served as a standard reference, indicating the maximum extension allowed for upper floors and discouraging abuse.
On the currently visible marble barbacano, you can still read the Latin inscription:
“Per la iurisdiciom de barbacani”,
highlighting the legal importance of the official model.
