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!

Situated between the Basilica di San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, the Palazzo…read moreDucale, or Doge's (Duke's) Palace, is arguably the jewel in the crown. It was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries and hosted various government institutions, including the Great Council and the Council of Ten, which controlled the affairs of the republic. Its façade featured intricate marble reliefs, elegant arches, and decorative elements that showcased the beauty of the place where my partner, our friend, family members, and I had gotten self-guided tickets without a reservation last Saturday and moved quickly. One entered the palazzo through a door next to the Lagoon into an enormous courtyard and the Arco Foscari. Here we saw the mix of styles that made up the palace, as successive doges tried to make the palace ever more magnificent. Inside, one can explore a series of opulent rooms, grand halls, and ornate chambers adorned with exquisite artworks, stunning frescoes, and elaborate ceilings. Notable rooms include the Doge's apartments, the Hall of the Great Council, and the Chamber of the Council of Ten. Plan a minimum of two hours to get a good bit of history, which is a living echo of a world that helped shape Europe. We can recommend.

500 to 600 year-old works of art including Michelangelo and Bosch. But the highlight is undoubtedly…read morethe vitruvian man by da Vinci. It is worth the price of the entry alone. It sits behind a closed curtain for 20 minutes then they uncover it for another 20 minutes. They say it will be on display for one year. And then it is stored in a dark room where no one can see it for eight years. They do this routine to avoid damaging the sensitive material.

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.

Just a delightful day & experience. We stayed right nearby, which was a treat in itself, but loved…read moreseeing the entire collection & home. I do think 7 dollars pp for the headset is asking a bit too much following a fairly generous admission fee. If you purchase tickets for after something like 3:30 pm, you can enter at any time after that until last entry, so that was nice. Free small lockers for your jackets. They will not allow or hold luggage, I mention this because we wanted to visit before our Airbnb was ready, but unfortunately did not see that nearby there were luggage storage places. We could have used our wasted waiting time better. While I am not a huge fan of modern art, it was so nice to see the inside & terrace/dock of the estate and learn about her dear daughter, Pegeen, who passed away prematurely. I loved the little story about the statue with the detachable phallus that inevitably needed to be soldered on after being stolen many times. A stunning & tranquil corner of Venice.

Mega over-crowded! We bought tickets online because it may "sell out". I don't think they would…read moreever sell out-seems packing hundreds of people into very small rooms and hallways was just fine. Large student groups of uninterested kids and bougie aficionados with no self-awareness abound. Not sure if the art or people watching was more insufferable. We spent about 20 min inside before we bailed. Also, 90% of the art looks like what second graders produce and parents would hang on a fridge. Want to see art? Walk thru any of the art galleries with photography and oil paintings for sale-far better plan. Not sure how this gets nearly 5 stars. During the very busy season this place must be even more insane. How about limit the crowds, especially for those with the foresight to pre-purchase tickets to avoid what we experienced.

Cute little museum that showcases their local hero with his life and work. It's more of an…read moreinteractive museum of replicas of some of his most famous creations. Located in a historic section of Venice. It's in need of some updates but over all it's cute.

Wonderful museum with so much to see. Would highly recommend on your next trip to Italy.read more

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

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.

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.

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.

On our water bus on the way to Murano from Venice, I did some quick research on glass-blowing…read moredemonstrations. There is no shortage of options but you want to make sure you pick a good one. The Glass Cathedral Santa Chiara stood out to me because it's at the very top of TripAdvisor's list of the top attractions in Murano. I tried to make a reservation online but they don't allow day-of reservations so we tried our luck in person. Luckily, it worked out. It's a short walk from the water bus station. Though I will say it's a bit tough to find because the cathedral is a bit hidden. Once you walk in, you see how beautiful the cathedral is and you already feel like you're in the right place. We arrived at a good time and got tickets for the next show. You can just pay for the demonstration itself or add beverages as add-ons e.g. beer, wine, Aperol spritz, mixed drinks, etc. We added Aperol Spritz which is served in a nice glass (I would expect nothing less in Murano). From there, there is some bench seating and a few tables where you can view the demonstration. The artist performing his craft was an artist in the true sense of the word. He wasn't there to entertain the crowd. He didn't seem friendly. But he loves his craft. And I love that. It was super impressive to see him do his thing and create multiple works of art along the help with his assistant. Murano is known for having the best glass-blowing in the world so you'll see a lot of advanced techniques and you'll get a grasp of the skill needed to create what you can buy at stores or online. It makes you appreciate even more the value of handmade goods. Seeing a glass-blowing demonstration is a must when you're in Murano and this place may very well be the best!

We stopped in and enjoyed the glass blowing demonstration. Very affordable entry fee and our kids…read more(4 and 6 years old) entry was free. The staff were friendly and our kids enjoyed themselves!