Over a century ago, Antonio Pavoni helped craft some of Colorado’s most iconic structures from his north Denver studio. The illegitimate son of a Venetian count, Pavoni moved from Italy to the United States in 1887 and established himself as an artist and stonecutter. He contributed to the Colorado State Capitol, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Cheesman Dam and more.
Though his work adorns the state to this day, Pavoni’s studio and home on West 24th Avenue were demolished long ago, replaced with an apartment complex. They’re among countless Italian landmarks lost in Denver, from modern community staples like Pagliacci’s and Carbone’s Italian Sausage Deli to historic buildings such as the Holy Trinity Italian Evangelical Church and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grade School.
