The Palazzo Ducale also known as Doge's Palace is a must visit while in Venice. It's located in the…read morefamous St Marks square right next to St Mark's Basilica. It got its name from the Duke or ruler of Venice. Inside you will see high gold ceilings, an old armory that stored historic weapons, prison cells where you can look out a tiny hole to the Bridge of Sighs. We booked our tour here with Get Your Guide which included a tour of St Marks Basilica. Expect to spend at least a couple of hours here. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking in and around the grounds. Our tour guide spoke English the entire time which was helpful so we got to learn the history and feel first hand of the prisoners here. It was first built in the 14th century and then rebuilt to make it more grander each time.

Palazzo Ducale or the Doge's Palace was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Venice. Ducale or…read moreDoge means Duke. The Duke was the highest governing position in Venice, and this is once where they lived. While strolling St. Mark's Square I already admired the beauty of the building. The building has gothic architecture with influences from the Byzantine times, Islamic and European Medieval styles. My camera does not do its' beauty justice. The tickets to Doge's Palace are time entry tickets, but they didn't seem to be too strict compared to other museums. Tickets are 37€/person. There is a baggage check in area for large items like a backpack, at no cost. It's nice because my boyfriend and I left our stuff there, even things that weren't required to be checked so we walked around more lightly. I only kept my phone for photos. One of the first things I remember seeing is the snitch mailbox. In the olden days the citizens were encouraged to rat on one another and they can leave anonymous tips for the government here. Unfortunately as a result many were wrongfully imprisoned... and there is a full on prison in the later ends of the tour. It was really scary to walk through. On a more positive note, there had the most stunning golden staircase and one of the most incredible largest paintings in the world, the Il Parasido by Jacopo Tintoretto. A must visit when visiting Venice!

Worth a trip to the Gallerie dell' Accademia when visiting Venezia…read more I recommend lunch or dinner at Al Vechio Maragon (nearby) after the visiting the museum.

We were on a group tour of Italy and arrived a day early to do some sightseeing on our own. The…read moreGallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia (in Venice) was a "must see" on my wife's list - so off to the Galleria we went. This museum holds marvelous works of art dating back 500-600 years or more. Being late September, we were able to get in without reservations and without standing in a long line - in fact, there was no line. We spent over 2 hours in the museum and only scratched the surface. This should definitely be "on your list" when visiting VEnice, Italy.

Pre-purchasing our tickets for the 12:00pm slot was the best decision we made, as it allowed us to…read morebreeze right past the ticket lines and head straight into the collection without any hassle. Housed right on the Grand Canal in Peggy Guggenheim's former palazzo home, the museum feels wonderfully intimate and personal compared to massive, echoing institutions. Walking through the galleries at noon was an incredible experience. The rooms are filled with jaw-dropping masterpieces from 20th-century legends like Picasso, Pollock, Kandinsky, and Magritte. Because you're touring her actual former residence, the art feels deeply connected to a lived-in history rather than just being sterile displays on a wall. The highlight, though, has to be stepping outside into the sculpture garden overlooking the canal. It is peaceful, beautifully curated, and features stunning works surrounded by greenery with views right out onto the water. Even if you aren't usually an art fanatic, the unique atmosphere, incredible history, and gorgeous setting make this one of the most magical stops in all of Venice. Highly recommend locking in your timed-entry tickets ahead of time and spending a relaxing couple of hours here!

I'm obsessed with every thing about Peggy Guggenheim & the area of Dorsoduro that surrounds the…read moreCollection. Just a delightful home on the Grand Canal, small & intimate with such diversity that the moment we left I was already craving a revisit. Beautiful garden memorial to Peggy & her beloved dogs. "Peggy's ashes are buried her beloved pooches are also with her. This is the only case in the world where the creator of a museum is buried inside" The courtyard is peaceful and allows for a few areas to reflect before or after visiting the collection inside. Of course, the delight is the canal entrance to the terrace showcasing the bronze Marino Marini "Angel of the City" statue of a rider on a horse with outstretched hands and an erect phallus that is said to once upon a time be detachable to prevent the nuns who were passing by from seeing it. Eventually stolen enough times that it was soldered in place. What a place !! What an island !

We opted for the Ca d'Oro when the Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia sounded too daunting and too…read morefar away. Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca d'Oro was a great beginner's introduction to the island's many art galleries and museums. The museum is just the right size (housed in an old palace, just a few floors) and is not crowded. You basically get the whole museum to yourself and its a nice contrast to the busyness of Piazza San Marco. The art is so so but the building is what truly shines here. The Bon family designed the palace. If that family name makes no sense to you at all, just know that they also designed Doge's Palace! The courtyard is a beautiful space and is made up of the most amazing tile work. Also nice is the balcony and area where your boat would pull up from the canal. Just imagine what that would be like if it were back in the day. Not much has changed in terms of the structure and it is easy to picture what life was like in this palace.

Normally not a museum guy, but I completely enjoyed this one. The audioguide worked perfectly and…read moreallowed me the time to follow the paintings and see things I would not have seen on my own. This is definitely worth your time. So glad we did this.

It's overwhelming. Give yourself time to view, recognize and feel this art environment. The…read morepaintings, woodwork, wood sculptures, tile work etc. The restoration video is educational about the precise process of bring the color back to the original form

Very much enjoyed the quiet and magnificence of this palace turned museum; however, two issues:…read moreaudio tour was difficult to follow from room to room with using a decimal point and title system and poor signage, and no place to sit, despite ample space! On our feet for a full three hours unless seated on the stairs between floors apologizing to other navigating between floors. Otherwise wonderful.

Venice is completely packed full of tourists pretty much year round these days, but there are many…read moreplaces where it's possible to get away from the crowds--they are called museums, and this is a great one. It's devoted to 17th-century Venetian painting but also has room-full of fantastic carved furniture, worth seeing all by itself, ceiling paintings throughout, and a separate collection of works donated by Ferruccio Mestrovich, where I wandered through the rooms for a full 45 minutes without seeing another person. This is on the Grand Canal! This is where Robert Browning lived in the 19th century! You can go down to the cafe and sit basically on the water with a glass of wine for as long as you like. Get a museum day pass and a day transportation pass.

Museo Correr, is the Corner Museum, and I'm sure they get their name being in the corner of St…read more Mark's Square. Admission to this museum was included with our ticket for the Doge's Palace so we decided to check it out. Just to manage expectations, visiting this after the Doge's Palace made the visit very lackluster and underwhelming... ... but it's more important to prioritize going to the Doge's Palace at an earlier time to avoid crowds so I wouldn't advise on coming here first. If you're limited on time, you can skip it. This museum captures the history, art, and daily life of the Venetian Republic. We saw ancient maps and globes. It was fascinating to see how the world was perceived before the discovery of North and South America. There were also paintings and sculptures from famous Italian artists. There were also historic documents and objects from the old republic.

This was one of my favorite museums in Venice, and I'm truly shocked that some reviews on here…read morerecommend skipping it. I guess it depends what you're into. The museum is situated right on st. Marks square directly opposite st. Marks basilica and is in a palatial building that stretches across the square. The archeological museum Is also a part of this same collection. Architecturally the building is fantastic, and the rooms rival those of the Ducal palace. Unlike the ducal palace; this museum also has a whole bunch of artifacts which relate to the history of Venice. My favorite parts were the classical sculptures, the medieval maps, and the extensive coin collections. Ticket was a common with the ducal palace. This museum also had fewer people and that also made it more enjoyable.

The Venice - San Marco contemporary art gallery of the prominent European Bel-Air Fine Art company…read morewas a pleasant and whimsical discovery in Venezia. After awhile, for me at least, all the medieval and religious art in Italy starts to blur together. This makes stumbling upon the hyperrealism, neorealism, neo-pop, neo-surrealism, and modern collection on display (and for sale) at this contemporary art gallery both fun and inspirational. Pieces by French-Israeli sculptor Idan Zareski, American sculptor Carole Feuerman, French sculptor Cévé, French photographer Cécile Plaisance, French sculptor Marie-Paule Deville-Chabrolle, Italian-American photographer Guido Argentini, and Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky all were mesmerizing. Of course, Bel-Air Fine Art is one of the leading contemporary art groups in Europe. Its collection of world-class items on display at this gallery was fun to explore and contemplate without a lot of pressure from overly-attentive sales people or a crowd of tourists.

Beautiful paintings and silks can be found in this museum. There are several boards used to give…read moreyou context of the artist, history, and architecture before you enter. The silk dresses and remnants of other silk patterns are plentiful. Beautiful colors and designs as well as the tools used to create them can be found throughout. Don't forget to look up and view the silk chandeliers. Geometric designs covered by beautiful silks create interesting light. My favorites were the paintings, especially those depicting the city of Venice. There were also many portraits of women in various poses. The ones of the women looking away were interesting. It was fun to see some images in a beginning stage where some of the picture was still a drawing and other parts had begun to be painted. It was also interesting to see the models of theatres. Lots of variety in the displayed art. For 10eu, it was a great sample of art.

From the owner: The house belonged to the brilliant Mariano Fortuny, since 1975 one of the benchmarks for Visual…read moreArts in Venice

How does the Punta della Dogana have only 1 other yelp review?…read more When I was planning my trip to Italy my son, who I was meeting there, mentioned that he'd heard Venice to be good for about 2 nights, maybe 3. I reasoned that spending too long in Venice was probably impossible and was proven correct. It gives you time to see and experience things different than do the hordes of people who ascend on Venice each day. That's how I explain the single review for Punta della Dogana: most visitors to Venice are seeking a different sort of art experience. Punta della Dogana, a major contemporary art museum, sits in a gorgeous 15th century customs house surrounded by canals on either side. One of its best features - besides the quietude to be found inside - are the water views from various inside locales. During my visit the entire museum was given over to a single exhibiting artist. Damien Hirst and his "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable" filled the museum. Impressive? Yes. Tiring? Yes. I'd rather have seen a greater variety of artists but suffice to say I now know a lot about Damien Hirst and - spoiler alert - the story told in Hirst's exhibit is 100% fabricated. Cheeky artist. I enjoyed my visit to Punta della Dogana and later would look back on it as a respite from the relentless volume of ancient marble statues and paintings depicting religious scenes. Contemporary art speaks more loudly to me. Free indoor storage lockers are available to museum patrons on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're in search of a quiet and gorgeous space, or need a break from all of the stuff you supposedly came to Italy to see consider a visit here. It might not get the press of some of Venice's other museums but it is, most definitely, worthy.

This is a prime venue and location to showcase contemporary Art. The views are jaw dropping, high…read moreceilings, contemporary decor set in a historical building. The program is of great quality, featuring some of the world's most prominent Artists.