But to return to the ancient history of the Palace (now Hotel Royal Danieli) it was built in 1400, by one of the Dandolo families, but whether by that of the great Doge, Enrico Dandolo, is not quite certain. In the _Chronicles of Malipiero_ which date from 1457 to 1500 we find the following passage «Today, the 28th August 1498, have arrived the Ambassadors of Florence, Rucellai and Vespucci; who are lodged in the Palazzo Dandolo, in the Calle delle Razze». We should here remark that the beautiful Gothic door, in the Calle delle Razze was originally the principle entrance, and the one on the Riva degli Schiavoni has only been opened in recent years for the convenience of travellers. We find confirmation of what has been said as to the date of the Palace, and as to the family who built it, in the _Diary of Sanudo_, in which he tells us that «on the 7th April 1498 the Prince of Salerno came to Venice. A most brilliant reception was given him, great _festas_ were held in his honour, and he, and his suite of forty-four persons were lodged in the Dandolo Palace of the _Calle delle Razze_». Sanudo tells us again that «in 1499, this magnificent abode was prepared, by order of the Republic, to receive worthily the French Ambassadors». We could cite many other historical passages proving that this Palace had belonged to the Dandolo family, but one more, and a very interesting one, must suffice. In _Sanudo's Diary_ we read again «On the evening of the 21 February 1531 the orator Cesareo, in the Palace Dandolo, Calle delle Razze, on the quay, gave a very great feast, with fireworks concerts, and illuminated boats, Spanish fashion, on the Canal of St. Mark's, on the occasion of the elevation of the king of Hungary and Boemia, to the dignity of a King of the Romans». This historic Palace passed from the Dandolos to the Gritti family, in 1536, by a deed of sale; and it is not without interest to note that to distinguish it from others of the same name, it is called in the deed, «that Palazzo Dandolo in which generally abides the Ambassadors of France». [Illustration: ATRIUM AND DUCAL STAIRS IN THE PALAZZO DANDOLO] After the Dandolos and the Grittis, the Michiel, the Mocenigo and the Bernardo families became its possessors by marriage, and they retained it till the beginning of the present century, when, as we have said, its second floor was sold, by the noble Dame Helen Michiel, widow of Alvise Bernardo to Dal Niel. Dal Niel left it to his daughter Alfonsina Muzzarelli, who was able, in 1840 to buy the first floor from the noble Filippo Nani, the heir of the Mocenigos; and thus the whole building passed to her daughter Giuseppina Roux, and forms the present Hotel Royal Danieli.