Something you can't miss

The two most important Venetian popular feasts are related to two plague epidemics and two churches were erected for the occasions.

Palazzo Grimani at Santa Maria Formosa

In 1981 the state purchased this unique palazzo and its restoration started. At last in December 2008 it has been open to the pubblic as a museum.
The palace was began by Antonio Grimani in the early 1500's and subsequently and spectacularly completed by his nephews Giovanni and Vettore Grimani. The palace and its architecture are unique among Venetian palaces, combining Roman and Tuscan architectural and decorative elements not common elsewhere in the city. Some of the more striking features include the unique Tribuna, a special room planned for Giovanni's archaeological collection, beautiful frescos, luscious marble, elegant stuccos, ancient sculptures, remarkable paintings by J. Bosch. During the sightseeing it is posssible to gather information about the restoration work which has been considered an exemplary job.

Venice the contemporary art capital

The Punta della Dogana, or Customs Point, is a promontory at the entrance to St Mark's Basin, where the Grand Canal  meets the Giudecca Canal . The buildings of the Dogana di Mare (Sea Customs Post) were built in the late 17th century. French billionaire and leading art collector Francois Pinault has won a long-running battle with the Guggenheim Foundation to turn the Renaissance warehouse in into a contemporary art gallery. The restoration project of Punta della Dogana, which will host the permanent collection of the French entrepreneur , is assigned to Japanese architect Tadao Ando and includes a 4,290 square-meter area.
The new Punta della Dogana Contemporary Art Museum toghether with Palazzo Grassi on the same Canal - bought by Pinault 2 years ago - is going to become a prestigios center for conterporary art in Europe. The new space should be inaugurated in June 2009.

 

«The reuse of Punta della Dogana is a precise example of how the plan about a possible Venice, able to combine memory and innovation,  is becoming a concrete reality».

(Massimo Cacciari, Major of Venice)

Glass Museum

Learn more about the Venetian art of blowing glass by visiting the Glass Museum in Murano with us. This interesting and little known museum on Murano island boasts a fantastic historical collection plus an educational section where the raw materials and the techniques of glass blowing are clearly explained. We recommend this museum for kids. Contact us!