Among many Venice museums only a few provide an exceptional overview of the city’s past, present, and future. These ten museums focus on history, art, and science, uncovering the incredible facts and events that have shaped the majestic city of Venice that we know and love today.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is the modern art sanctuary and one of the most-visited museums in Venice. An 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni houses the museum overlooking the Grand Canal. In 1949, an American millionaire and a vibrant art collector, Peggy Guggenheim, bought the palace and made it her home. She started showcasing her collection at private events she organized at her residence. Her impressive contemporary art collection became public in 1980, after her death. It features works by prominent artists like Picasso, Dali, Pollock, Kandinsky, Duchamp, and Malevich. Moreover, the museum regularly hosts temporary thematic exhibitions and installations.
The Accademia Gallery
The Accademia Gallery stands a few minutes walk from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The museum’s building, designed by Andrea Palladio, is Scuola Grande della Carità, the oldest of the seven Great Schools of Venice. The museum’s impressive collection includes over 800 pieces of Venetian art from the Byzantine, Renaissance, and Rococo periods. The Accademia Gallery is the place of masterpieces by artists like Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Bellini, and Molin. The gallery’s highlights include the famous Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci. However, it’s rarely on public display. What started as the Venetian Academy of Fine Arts has now become a fantastic art gallery.
The Murano Glass Museum
Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox
Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter
The recently renovated Murano Glass Museum stands outside of Venice. Murano is easily accessible by Venetian vaporettos and makes for a short but pleasant trip. The museum, initially established in 1861, is a perfect place to learn about the history of Venice through the art of glass-making. It’s a centuries-old craft, and the museum has all the information about the glass-making techniques and traditions. The museum’s building, Palazzo Giustinian, provides two floors for exploring, with objects from the Roman ages to the 20th century. The refreshing collection features famous Murano colored glass, lattimo, and various glass mosaics. In addition to temporary exhibitions, there are regular live glass-making demonstrations.
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is a contrast to other Venetian museums. Although housed in the historical 13th-century Fondaco dei Turchi, a.k.a. the Turkish Trading House, it provides a modern and interactive experience. It’s an ideal place for a group or a family since the exhibits can engage people of all ages. The collection of over two million pieces uncovers the secrets of the Venetian Lagoon’s biodiversity. In addition to an extensive collection of fossils, minerals, plants, and animal specimens, there are some unique items. The museum’s highlights are the 20-meter whale skeleton, a 7-meter dinosaur skeleton, and a 5-meter aquarium with over 50 kinds of fish.
Punta della Dogana
Punta della Dogana is one of the iconic museums in Dorsoduro, one of the six Venetian neighborhoods. The museum’s famous triangular building stands at the intersection of the Grand and Giudecca Canals, near the legendary church of Santa Maria della Salute. The place, built in 1682, functioned as Venice’s customs until the 1980s when it became abandoned. In 2007, the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, commissioned by the François Pinault Foundation, completely redesigned the museum. All the materials, techniques, and styles used in the reconstruction perfectly reflect the museum’s collection of modern and contemporary art. The pieces on display are frequently changing, so there are always fresh and spectacular artworks to enjoy.
The M9 Museum
The M9 is the most modern and innovative museum in Venice. Even its location, Mestre, is outside of the historic center. The collection presented at the museum includes various kinds of multimedia and offers hands-on experiences like touch screens, virtual reality, and 3D installations. Children are very welcome at the M9. There are play areas and workshops specifically designed to engage the youngest visitors. By visiting the museum, one can learn all about the 20th century – history, culture, and science. Both permanent and temporary exhibitions take up the three floors of the building. The M9 is also a true gem for architecture enthusiasts. It’s a modern and sustainable complex designed by the German architects Sauerbruch & Hutton. In addition to the museum, they also redesigned the space for shops, cafes, and offices.
The Correr Museum
Museo Correr is on the list of Venice essentials. This museum, located on the city’s most famous square, St. Mark’s, is all about the history and culture of Venice. Opened in 1922, it started from the collection of Teodoro Correr, a well-known Venetian nobleman and an enthusiastic art collector. Over the years, other Venetian noble families and museums donated items to Museo Correr, expanding its collection. The objects presented at the museum give a thorough insight into Venice’s life, communities, and political scene from its foundation up to the 19th century. Visitors can indulge in paintings and sculptures by artists like Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian, Vivarini, and Antonio Canova. In addition, there are many historical archives, naval, and military items.
The Lace Museum
One of the unconventional ways to dive into the history of Venice is to visit the Lace Museum, located on Burano island, known to most for its colorful houses. Known as Museo del Merletto, the museum opened in 1981 in the building of the Burano Lace School. The works of the school were the basis of the museum’s collection. In 2011, the museum reopened to the public after an extensive restoration and now offers four rooms divided into themes. Over 200 pieces on display offer insight into the intricate art of lace-making from the 16th to the 20th centuries. As a bonus for creative visitors, the museum offers live workshops for those who want to dive deeper into the techniques, styles, and designs.
The Naval History Museum
The Venetian Republic was once a superpower and a maritime legend. Naturally, Venice has a rich maritime heritage, wonderfully presented at the Naval History Museum owned by the Italian Navy. The museum opened in 1919 and is now part of the Arsenale, a vast venue for the annual Venice Biennale. While exploring the museum’s five floors, visitors can see models of warships, merchant ships, and exploration vessels. The collection also boasts weapons, instruments, tools, and uniforms. The interactive multimedia exhibits uncover the history of naval battles, discoveries, and trade routes. The collection’s best feature is the Bucintoro, an 1837 model of a ceremonial ship used by the Venetian Doge.
The Oriental Art Museum
Last but not least on the list of fantastic Venice museums is the Oriental Art Museum, located in the same building as the Ca’ Pesaro Gallery. For a change, this museum is not about Venice. It exists thanks to Prince Henry of Bourbon-Parma, who traveled the world in 1887-1889, collecting the valuable items presented at the museum today. The remarkable selection includes over 30 thousand items from Japan, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and India. They provide a glimpse into the history, art, religion, and culture of several Asian civilizations. Some items, like the Ming Dynasty ceramics or the Japanese woodblock prints, are priceless.