An Art Lover’s Guide to Venice

Symbol of the glory and might of the Republic of Venice, the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was designed to awe visiting rulers and dignitaries. Together with its massive size—and legendary prisons—this complex next to St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) on St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) impresses with its Gothic stonework outside and exquisite works by Venetian masters inside. Tour the palace with a guide for insights into Venetian Renaissance art by masters like Titian, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo; many Doge’s Palace tours also include a visit to the Basilica next door.

The Venetian School was known for injecting sumptuous compositions and exuberant colors into Renaissance art, and nowhere is this better expressed than in the works of famous Venetian artists Tintoretto, Titian, and Tiepolo. Marvel at their dramatic paintings covering the walls and ceilings inside the Scuola Grande di San Rocco—the historic seat of the San Rocco confraternity in Venice’s San Polo district—from Tintoretto’s biblical scenes in the Sala dell'Albergo and Sala Superiore to Titian’s Annunciation and Tiepolo’s duo of masterpieces: Abraham and the Angels and Agar and Ishmael. Pop in on your own or as part of a Scuola Grande di San Rocco tour led by an art historian guide.

The drama of works by the Venetian School can overwhelm the senses, so take a break with a stop at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of the premier art galleries in Venice. Located in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni—the former residence of founder Peggy Guggenheim—this collection features works by 20th-century stars like Picasso, Magritte, Pollock, Klee, Dalí, and Calder in the palace interiors and outdoor sculpture garden. Learn more about the life and work of these artists and of the American collector who brought them all to the Venetian lagoon with a private tour of the gallery.

You could easily pass the plain Frari Church (Basilica dei Frari) without giving it a second glance, but this understated brick facade hides a dazzling array of art from the High Renaissance, one of the most important periods in Venetian art history. A highlight of San Polo walking tours, the church contains works by Venetian artists like Bellini and Titian, as well as the Florentine Donatello. Take some time to admire the ornately carved wooden choir stalls, created by master carvers Marco and Francesco Cozzi in the 15th century.

Though much of Venice’s art is found in situ inside historic palaces and churches, the city does have a clutch of traditional museums. First among them is the Accademia Gallery (Gallerie dell'Accademia), where you can tour the finest art collection in the Floating City. Check out Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man plus an extensive series of galleries dedicated to four hundred years of Venetian masters—from Titian, Tiepolo, Veronese, and Bellini to the 18th-century painter Canaletto—now displayed in the former Santa Maria della Carità complex, including the church, monastery, and Scuola Grande (confraternity seat).

Like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, this art trove was assembled by a private collector—Francois Pinault, in this case. Unlike the Guggenheim, however, the art here focuses on 21st-century artists. Instead of being permanently displayed, select pieces from the collection are featured in rotating temporary exhibitions held in two venues: the glorious Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, a historic customs house-turned-exhibition space just steps from the landmark Church of Santa Maria della Salute in the Dorsoduro district. The Pinault Collection aims to highlight artists working today, and culture vultures can catch thematic or solo shows with works by stars like Sol LeWitt, Damien Hirst, and Cindy Sherman set against the backdrop of historic splendor.

Access one of the few noble palaces in Venice open to the public at the Querini Stampalia Foundation, housed in Palazzo Querini Stampalia. Stroll through the Ducal Apartments to take in works by Venetian masters in the House Museum and Intesa Sanpaolo collection, or catch contemporary works in the “Conserving the Future” gallery. This little-known foundation is a great place to enjoy masterpieces far from the crowds at Venice’s more famous art hot spots, so stop here after a sightseeing tour of the city.

Set along the Grand Canal—and offering sweeping canal views from its upper floor loggia—Ca’ Pesaro houses two fantastic yet often overlooked museums: the International Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Oriental Art. The former groups together modern works by Italians like de Chirico plus international artists including Rodin and Klimt; the latter displays Europe’s largest collection of Japanese art from the Edo era. Visit before or after a Grand Canal tour, but before you head upstairs to admire the collections, pause in the ground-floor entrance to marvel at the fine mosaic floor, a 20th-century addition to the palace.

One of the most important Venice art exhibitions, the Venice Biennale is a massive celebration of international contemporary art and architecture held annually from late April to November in multiple venues across the city. The focus alternates annually between art and architecture, and the main national pavilions are clustered in the Giardini del Biennale (Biennale Gardens) and the Arsenale. You can purchase single-access tickets or 1- or 3-day passes to visit the Gardens and Arsenale, or get your bearings with a Biennale guided tour. One of the biggest contemporary art events in the world, the Biennale is a must-see for anyone passionate about the 21st-century art scene.