Why Visit Venice Museums?

Who doesn’t imagine pictures of romance and water reflections glistening in the sun at the mention of Venice? The floating city that is almost too magical to be real, where every corner can tell a story and every canal remembers the likes of Casanova and Vivaldi. Most travel experts suggest wandering Venice’s streets, taking a gondola to glide along its canals, and listening to dueling orchestras on Piazza san Marco. But its museums often don’t get their fair share of travel experts’ and tourists’ attention. Join us on discovering Venice through Its Museums, a Journey into art, history, and culture. Venice offers a museum for everyone, including those interested in art, history, religion, local crafts, and more. Let us take you on a brief tour of the best museums in and around Venice, sharing why you should visit, what treasures they hold, and how to make the most of your experience.

1. Gallerie dell’Accademia: A Place to Enjoy Renaissance Art

Probably the most famous museum in Venice is the Gallerie dell’Accademia, a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates art and wants to better understand the history of Venice through seeing the artworks of the Venetian Renaissance and beyond, all the way to the 19th century. Located on the south bank of the Grand Canal opposite the main landmarks such as Piazza San Marco, this museum displays an extraordinary collection of paintings created by all of the most iconic Venetian masters, such as Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Mantegna, Giordano, Canaletto, and Bellini. The Gallerie used to be the main art school of Venice but later the two institutions split and the art school is now housed in a different building.

What to See:

One of the most interesting pieces in the collection is Giorgione’s “The Tempest”, a painting that is mysterious and has had many different interpretations. With its darkening sky and figures that seem to not interact but be focused on something outside of the painting, this masterpiece has never ceased to puzzle art historians and visitors alike.

Another masterpiece in Gallerie dell’Accademia is “Presentation of the Virgin” by Titian, where one can see his mastery of perspective and composition and the richness of his colors. The bright hues and the sheer scale of this painting make it a must-see.

Tintoretto’s dramatic canvases also dominate the museum’s collection. His interesting easily recognizable style reminding of theatrical staging and masterful use of light and shadow create an emotional intensity that makes the viewer feel like he is a part of the scene.

Why Visit?

The Gallerie dell’Accademia offers an immersive experience of delving into Venice’s artistic past. The Republic of Venice gave birth to an entire school of painting with figures like Titian, Tintoretto, Luca Giordano, and Vittore Carpaccio whose works originally graced Venice’s churches, palaces, and public spaces. These artists created world-renowned masterpieces that were inspired by the artistic richness of their beautiful city. This museum’s serene atmosphere in one of the old Venetian buildings provides an ideal setting for appreciating the art of the Venetian Renaissance.

What to Know: Arrive early to avoid the crowds, and consider joining a guided tour. A knowledgeable guide can provide deeper insights into the artworks’ historical and cultural context.

2. Peggy Guggenheim Collection: A Rare Haven of Modern Art in Venice

For a complete shift of perspective, visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Located in the elegant Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, this museum houses one of Europe’s best collections of modern art, curated by the famous American art collector Peggy Guggenheim.

What to See:

The museum’s collection features works by some of the most influential artists of the 20th century, including Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró. One of the most provocative pieces is “The Angel of the City” by Marino Marini, a striking bronze sculpture positioned on the museum terrace. Despite its controversial subject matter, the sculpture draws on Etruscan, Greek, and medieval artistic traditions and has a deeper context and meaning than might seem at first glance. Rene Magritte’s Empire of Light showcases the artist’s surrealist leanings in an atmosphere of magical twilight and a mix of real and imagined. Works by Salvador Dali, Vasilii Kandinsky, and others offer a wide perspective of the artistic movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries for all to enjoy.

Beyond the artworks, the museum itself tells a story. Peggy Guggenheim’s passion for art, the city of Venice, her personal relationships with many of the artists in her collection, her painstaking efforts at developing the large art collection, and her investment in the museum make this exhibition different from many other art displays.

Why Visit?

This museum is a great destination for modern art enthusiasts, offering a refreshing break from the Renaissance and Baroque art typically associated with Venice that feels most of its palaces, churches, and museums. Its peaceful sculpture garden is a perfect spot to relax and reflect on the birth of contemporary art, the avant-garde artistic movements, and the masterpieces displayed inside.

What to Know: Check for the museum’s temporary exhibitions before you go, they often feature rare or unique pieces from around the world.

No trip to Venice would be complete without a visit to the Doge’s Palace, a stunning Venetian Gothic edifice that once served as the home of the Doge and the central hub of the political power and judiciary in the Venetian Republic. As you step into this architectural marvel, you’re stepping back into the height of Venice’s power and influence. Beyond the palatial rooms lacking furniture but richly decorated with ceiling and wall paintings, you can see the legendary Bridge of Sighs and the prison connected to the Palazzo Doge where the likes of Casanova once spent their days.

3. Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale): The Seat of the Venetian Power

What to See:

The Golden Staircase (Scala d’Oro) sets the tone for the palace’s opulence. It’s a stairwell meant to dazzle foreign dignitaries and domestic guests alike with its gilded ceilings and intricate stone carvings. As you move through the vast halls, one grander than the other, you might feel a little bit of what the visitors going through these rooms felt centuries ago when Venice was at the height of its economic, military, and diplomatic power.

The infamous Bridge of Sighs offers a poignant connection to the darker pages of Venice’s past. Walking across the bridge, you can almost hear the sighs of prisoners catching their last glimpse of freedom before entering the dark cells on the other side, many of which were underground and flooded easily.

Don’t miss Tintoretto’s “Paradise”, a grand oil painting that dominates the Great Council Hall. Its scale and detail are incredible even nowadays, capturing the level of grandeur that is dazzling yet fitting for such an important public space.

Why Visit?

The Doge’s Palace combines art, history, and architecture in a way that few other museums can match. It tells the story of Venice’s political and cultural dominance during its golden age.

What to Know: Buy your tickets ahead of time, and book a tour to better understand the story behind the sequence of vast yet mostly empty rooms that you’ll be seeing. Better yet, book the Secret Itineraries Tour to access hidden chambers and hear fascinating stories uncovering Venetian political and social intrigues.

4. Museo Correr: An Overview of Venice’s Past

Located in St. Mark’s Square opposite Basilica di San Marco, the Museo Correr showcases artifacts that take you through long Venetian history and its unique culture. The foundation for this museum was laid in the 1800s by Teodoro Correr, a member of a prominent Venetian family who was an avid collector of art and historical artifacts from Venice’s past. Upon his death, he bequeathed his entire collection and a family palazzo that house it to the City of Venice. Eventually, over the years the collection was enriched by gifts from other wealthy art-collecting Venetian families and was moved into its current location on St. Mark’s Square. From its humble beginnings to its rise as a maritime power to its role as a cultural and economic powerhouse of Europe, this museum provides a fascinating journey into Venice’s rise and fall.

What to See:

The museum houses a collection of Canova’s Neoclassical sculptures, providing a great perspective into the art of this celebrated Venetian sculptor. The pieces are characterized by their relevance to contemporary understanding of sculpture which relays feelings and drama, as well as emotional depth.

In addition to art, the museum displays historical artifacts such as 18th-century maps and ancient Venetian coins, paintings showing celebration of various Venetian holidays, allowing visitors to get a sense of everyday life in Venice. Be sure to also visit the upper floors, which provide stunning views of St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile, and the square below.

Why Visit?

Museo Correr gives you a comprehensive overview of Venice’s complex history, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and those wondering about the city’s development over the centuries.

What to Know: Your ticket also includes entry to the National Archaeological Museum and the Biblioteca Marciana, making it a great value if you find the time to visit one or both of these interesting museums.

5. Murano Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro): The Story of Murano Glassmaking

Any visit to Venice longer than one day should definitely include a detour to the Island of Murano – a place where the best glassware in the world has been crafted for centuries. Murano Glass Museum is housed in a local palazzo on Fondamenta Marco Giustinian and showcases beautiful pieces of Murano Art Glass from the centuries past as well as gorgeous chandeliers gracing the ceiling of its rooms and the exhibits explaining the principles and process of making glass developed by the local artisans a thousand years ago. As the process of glass-making evolved the masters and artists of Murano invented different techniques resulting in masterpieces of art glass. The fascinating play of color and light characterizes the unique glass art creations born in the furnaces of the local workshops. This museum celebrates Venice’s centuries-old glassmaking and both the forgotten and prominent masters that crafted this Italian glass and made it world-famous.

What to See:

Discover rare glass artifacts dating back to the ancient Roman period, which will make you marvel at the longevity of the craft of glass-making. The museum also features modern glass sculptures, highlighting the innovative spark of the contemporary art glass masters rooted in the ancient traditions of the island’s skilled glass artisans.

Why Visit?

You will see lots of Murano Glass jewelry, accessories, sculptures, vases, and more for sale in multiple boutiques and shops on Murano Island. This museum will allow you to better understand why this craft has become so prominent and synonymous with the best in style and craftsmanship. You will learn to determine which pieces are real and valuable and which are better to stay away from as they may be sold by unscrupulous vendors peddling fakes from Asia. 

What to Know: Combine your visit with a stroll through Murano’s canal embankments and quiet streets, where you can find charming boutiques and studios offering one-of-a-kind Murano Glass pieces.

Venice is renowned for its canals, gondolas, and iconic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge. However, there’s more to Venice than meets the eye, especially if you’re willing to explore off the beaten path. Here are the most unique things to do in Venice, Italy. These are handpicked experiences that will allow you to see a different side of this enchanting city.

1. Discover the Quirky Libreria Acqua Alta

Tucked away from the crowds in a quiet yet very central area of Venice and opening to the canal in the back, Libreria Acqua Alta is an incredible find for book lovers. This bookstore is like an old bookinist’s attic – quirky, full of rare books in different languages, where you can even spot a cat or two sleeping among the books or wandering around. You might have already guessed that this bookstore is unlike any other. Instead of traditional bookshelves, you’ll find books piled on tables, and chairs, inside a bathtub, in a canoe, and even inside a real full-sized gondola positioned at the center of the the store! This unusual setup is not simply a fruit of the owners’ imagination, It’s also a creative solution to the frequent floods (acqua alta) that beset Venice. The bookstore also has the world-famous “book staircase” made entirely of old, damaged books. You can go to the top of the staircase for a lovely view of the canal and a nice perspective of the entire store behind you. Libreria Acqua Alta is a delightful place to wonder, dream, or just ponder the uniqueness of Venice.

2. Visit the Eery Crypt of San Zaccaria

If you have already visited the most famous churches of Venice such as Basilica di San Marco, Santa Maria della Salute, and Frari, it’s time to focus on some of the lesser-known but very interesting churches. Such is the Church of San Zaccaria, located in Castello sestiere (district in Venetian dialect) just a short walk from St. Mark’s Square. Built to house the holy relics of St. Zaccaria, the father of St. John the Baptist, this church has a beautiful facade and a stunning interior, with art masterpieces such as Giovanni Bellini’s monumental altarpiece and frescoes by Andrea del Castagno.

However, the most interesting area of this church is arguably its hidden secret – the crypt located underneath. Like many basement areas in Venice, the crypt is permanently flooded with canal water, but interestingly, it is still open to visitors. The water on the floor acts as a reflection pool, creating an eery feeling and immersing the visitor in centuries of Venice’s history and architecture. The reflections of the symmetrically placed pillars and in the water make for a beautiful impression and make you reflect on Venice’s constant battle with the sea.

3. Watch the Gondola craftsmen at the Squero di San Trovaso

Venice’s gondolas are famous worldwide and are beloved by tourists for their beauty, elegance, and symbolism. A gondola is an instant symbol of Venice, and a must-try when you are visiting this stunning city on the water. Tourists love to ride in gondolas but few of them know where and how these unique boats are made. For a really interesting off-the-beaten-track experience, visit the Squero di San Trovaso, one of the oldest and last remaining squeri (gondola workshops) in Dorsoduro sestiere of Venice. 

This workshop has been operating since the 17th century and is the only one that remains open. While not as big and bustling as it was in the days when gondolas were the only mode of transportation in Venice, this family-run operation is still actively working today, The expert workers repair gondolas using traditional methods passed down through generations. While guided tours are not typically available, you can ask your tour guide to bring you there if they are local and your tour is small or private. If you can’t arrange that, you can still watch the craftsmen at work from across a narrow canal. Seeing these artisans work their magic bringing to life sleek black gondolas helps you imagine Venice of the past and appreciate its unique traditions and crafts.

4. Savor a Ciccetti Crawl Through Venice’s Wine Bars

Many visitors to Venice dine at picturesque but often inauthentic canal-side tourist establishments or savor gourmet meals at Venice’s haute cuisine restaurants. However, Venice’s little baccari or Venetian traditional neighborhood bars offer tasty, cheap, and authentic cicchetti (small open-face sandwiches, seafood snacks, or charcuterie and cheese assortments similar to tapas). More than a way to snack, cicchetti is an experience, and some tourist guides even offer “cicchetti crawls” sampling wines and the fare at multiple bacari, akin to bar hopping. 

Each bacaro has its history, character, and a crowd of loyal customers. Many are very small inside, located in hidden alleys or along backside canals. In warmer months crowds spill over onto the embankments or sit on canal stairs drinking wine, eating cicchetti and chatting with some of the best views in the world. Some of the best and most popular bacari include Al Bottegon close to Squero di san Trovaso in Dorsoduro, Cantina Do Mori, one of the oldest wine bars in Venice, and All’Arco, a tiny bar close to Rialto Bridge, which always has a line at the front thanks to its consistently delicious cicchetti. 

Next time you are in Venice, go on a cicchetti crawl (we suggest going on your own, a tour would detract from the authenticity of this experience) of Venice’s bacari, sampling unique Venetian delicacies such as sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines), baccalà mantecato (creamed codfish), and small polpette (meatballs).

5. Experience the Art of Murano Glass

While Murano, an island near Venice, is on many tourist maps thanks to its famed glass-making heritage, not many people go beyond its main shopping streets- Fondamenta dei Vetrai, Fondamenta Antonio Colleoni and Riva Longa. Meanwhile, it is worth exploring beyond these main areas for a more rewarding experience. To see the craftsmanship of Murano glass, seek out the small family-owned stores which often incorporate small workshops with masters actively working on crafting the very pieces you see on the shelves. There are also some factories that offer private or affiliated tours and demonstrations. We do not recommend taking those because often you would be taken to a showroom and pushed to buy pieces at prices far above market.

Instead, explore the island by yourself, stop in multiple stores, check and compare the pieces and prices, and chat with the owners to get additional information about the craftsmen, techniques, and options. Murano, while fascinating, is not the only place to find great Murano Glass pieces at competitive prices. You can also visit small shops in Venice’s quieter neighborhoods away from Piazza San Marco and Rialto, where artists are reaching beyond the limits of traditional glassmaking. By seeing the Murano glass-makers at work, you will gain a deeper appreciation of their craft and understand how the art of Murano Glass fits into the unique canvas of the Venetian experience.

Seeking More Unique Experiences in Venice?

Venice is a city that rewards adventurous travelers ready to dive into the unknown, get lost, and discover interesting experiences beyond the beaten track. When you see Acqua Alta bookstore set up to survive frequent floods, visit a hidden San Zaccaria church crypt with flooded floors, watch the craftsmen at the San Trovaso gondola workshop, meet Murano Glass artisans and shopkeepers, and go on a picturesque and delightful wine and cicchetti crawl, you will know that Venice is more than an open-air museum but a living breathing city waiting to be discovered.

For more unique experiences, read our blog to learn about various glass makers and their factories, watch Venetians celebrate their unique holidays, and visit out-of-the-way museums and churches where more than a millennia of Venetian history comes to life.