It was built in the 14th century for the Bernardo family, a patrician family from Treviso, but putatively originally from Rome.[1] A separate Palazzo Bernardo, near the Ponte Bernardo but also in San Polo, was acquired in the 16th century by the Celsi family.[2] At this palace were housed Francesco Sforza and his wife, Bianca Visconti, during a grand state visit to Venice in May 1442. In 1532, the palace lodged Lorenzo Strozzi, who then hosted a Medici Cardinal in a feast. The palace was in the hands of the Bernardo till 1868.[3]