MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
There are a multitude of exciting museums and galleries to visit while here in Venice. Most are long running and fixtures of the city while others have rotating or temporary exhibitions. Some are public and others are private so prices will vary. You will find posters and banner throughout the island promoting the current exhibitions.
Civic Museums of Venice – Your ticket will grant you admission to 4 museums all for the price of one. Museums include: Doges Palace, Correr Museum, National Archaeology Museum and National Marciana Library. Your ticket is good for 3 months. For more information : www.museiciviciveneziani.it
Guggenheim Collection - Peggy Guggenheim fell in love with the city and lived in this palazzo until her death, after which it was turned into this magnificent modern art gallery on the Grand Canal. Here you will find, Picasso, Dali, Pollock and others from the 20th century and avantegarde movements. For more information: http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/english/index.htm
Ca’ Rezzonico – Museum of the Venetian 18th Century. Stepping back in time, this palace brings you the splendour of what it was like to live in the 1700’s. From the interior furnishings to the artwork and furniture with masterpieces by Canaletto, Longhi, Tiepolo and others. For more information: Tel. 041-2410100.
Ca Pesaro – This palace is a Baroque triumph of work by Longhena. Its lower two floors are filled with works by leading European modern masters such as Marc Chagall, Gustave Klimt and Rodin. Its upper floor hosts over 50.000 oriental artifacts collected by the Pesaro family. For more information: Tel. 041-5241173.
Ca d’Oro – One of the finest examples of Gothic Architecture on the Grand Canal. Here you will find Baron Franchetti’s private collection of bronzes, sculptures and Flemish and Dutch art. For more information: Tel. 041-5238790.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco – The San Rocco confraternity has been turned into a gallery to display its spectacular works by Tintoretto. You can admire Tintoretto ‘s cycles of allegories, Life and Passion of Christ, scenes from the Old and New Testament. Mirrors are available for you to carry around to avoid getting a sore neck looking at the ceiling frescos and paintings. For more information: Tel. 041-5234864
Fortuny Museum – Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo was an eccentric Spanish painter and collector, who bought the palace at the beginning of 20th Century. Fortuny is most famous for his invention of pleated silk and hand painted fabrics. The Museum is filled with his works and additional 80 by the Roman artist Virgilio Guidi. Temporary exhibitions are also on display. The museum just opened in 2005. For more information: www.museiciviciveneziani.it
Palazzo Grassi – Set on the Grand Canal, the palace dates back to 1740 when a wealthy merchant family commissioned Giorgio Massari to design the building. Bought by Fiat in 1984, it turned into a venue for temporary art exhibitions. Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh, Kandinsky...all the masters of vanguard have been hosted in the sumptuous rooms of this palace. For more information: www.palazzograssi.it
Accademia Gallery – The Accademia galleries host the largest collection of Venetian art in existence. A dazzling collection of masterpieces spanning the full development of Venetian art from Byzantine to Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, the Gallerie dell’Accademia is Venice’s equivalent of the Uffizi in Florence. For more information: www.gallerieaccademia.org
La Fenice Theatre – First raised in the twilight years of La Serenissima, in 1792, and rebuilt after fires in 1836 and again 2003, this is one of the world’s great opera stages. The grand opera theatre of Venice is back in action, providing an experience music lovers will not want to miss. For more information: Tel. 041- 2424