As is easy to guess from the name, the building of the New Procuracies was erected on Venice's central square later than the building of the Old Procuracies. However, like the first one, it served to house the procurators — the "fathers of the city," second only to the Doge among the rulers of Venice.
The construction of the New Procuracies, begun in 1582 under the direction of Vincenzo Scamozzi, was completed only in 1640 by the architect Baldassare Longhena. He made some changes to the design, adding even more offices for the procurators to the building.
It is worth noting that the New Procuracies are very similar to the Old ones — numerous arches, balcony balustrades, columns — together with the Napoleonic Wing, which connected the two buildings in the 18th century, they form the enclosed composition of Piazza San Marco.
Today, the building of the New Procuracies houses the Archaeological Museum, the Koppep Museum, which is entered through the Napoleonic Wing, as well as the famous Venetian cafe Florian.
