10 Under-the-Radar Museums in Venice

Set in the relatively quiet sestiere (neighborhood) of Santa Croce, Palazzo Mocenigo focuses on the fashion and perfumes of Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the maritime republic was at its glorious peak.

The collection spans 20 rooms of the historic palace and includes a hands-on perfume exhibit plus examples of original clothing and accessories from as far back as the 1600s. Their delicate fabrics and intricate embroidery are testimony to the wealth of Venice’s noble class during the city’s heyday.

Don’t miss: The perfume ingredients from across the globe, displayed in glass jars that you can open and sniff.

This sumptuous 17th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal was designed by Venice’s greatest baroque architect, Baldassare Longhena. Ca’ Rezzonico’s intricate marble façade is one of the most striking on the waterfront, and the ceremonial staircase and the grand ballroom added by the architect Giorgio Massari a century later showcases just a portion of the lavish life of Venetian aristocrats at the time.

Today, the palace hosts the Museum of 18th-Century Venice, and its collection of gilded furniture, decorative objects, and paintings by some of Venice’s most important artists—think Tintoretto, Canaletto, and Tiepolo—rivals the splendor of the surrounding palace.

Don't miss: The original 17th-century interiors of the historic Ai do San Marchi Pharmacy on the museum’s third floor.

The contemporary art collection of French billionaire Francois Pinault is split between Palazzo Grassi and Punta Dogana; head to the former for a gander at the over-the-top residence that once housed the powerful Grassi family. Enter through the 2-story, column-lined atrium to marvel at the frescoed grand staircase and ceiling, fully restored to their previous glory.

Once you can tear your gaze from the palace, join the smattering of serious art aficionados scattered through the echoing halls. Peruse the revolving exhibitions of contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and more by world-class artists like Damien Hirst, Luc Tuymans, and Urs Fischer.

Don't miss: The views over the Grand Canal from the palace’s waterfront windows.

Another Longhena-designed baroque masterpiece, the massive Ca’ Pesaro lords over the Grand Canal as a timeless monument to the Pesaro family, which once owned one of the most impressive art collections in Venice. All that remains of this legacy are the ornately painted ceilings of the palace, as the last member of the family auctioned off the dynasty’s treasures in the early 19th century.

Today, the palace houses two excellent museums that are overlooked by most tourists. Visit the International Gallery of Modern Art to admire works by modern Italian and international artists, including De Chirico, Klimt, and Rodin. Then head upstairs to the Museum of Oriental Art to marvel at the vast collection of Edo-era art and artifacts collected by Prince Henry of Bourbon in the late 19th century.

Don't miss: Klimt’s Judith II, the artist’s return to this biblical theme after his blockbuster Judith and the Head of Holofernes, painted almost a decade earlier.

It’s hard to say which is more dazzling, the splendid Gothic Palazzo Santa Sofia (also known as Ca’ d’Oro, or “Golden Palace,” for the gold leaf that once decorated its facade) or the exuberant works by Venetian masters housed inside. One of the oldest and most magnificent palaces along the Grand Canal, this 15th-century gem was bequeathed to the city by the late Baron Franchetti and is famous for the lacy stonework that edges the arched loggie (porticoes) along its facade.

Inside, the baron’s vast collection of tapestries, paintings, and sculptures—many plundered by Napoleon from the surrounding region and later reclaimed by the city of Venice—await. Wander through a wonderland of works by Titian, Mantegna, and Sansovino plus a cache of Flemish Masters to appreciate the French emperor’s eye for art.

Don't miss: Andrea Mantegna’s arrow-ridden San Sebastian, so beloved by Franchetti that he constructed a chapel exclusively to house the painting.

A 15th-century Gothic palazzo with soaring arched windows, Palazzo Fortuny (originally known as the Palazzo Pesaro) was purchased in the early 20th century by the Spanish artist and designer Mariano Fortuny, who transformed the sprawling property into his personal design atelier. The building was then donated to the city in 1956 by his widow.

Today, the palazzo turned museum showcases the late artist's wide-ranging passions for photography, painting, set design, and textiles; it's home to everything from original photos and fabrics to wall hangings, and lamps. The building's exhibition halls also host contemporary art shows.

Don't miss: The Winter Garden, painted on three of the room’s walls over decades by Fortuny.

The former residence of the influential Grimani family—Antonio Grimani became doge of Venice in 1521—this stately palace was restored just over a decade ago and today is a fabulous example of 16th-century Venetian architecture and decor. Though the palace once housed the family’s extensive collection of ancient antiquities, these treasures were eventually sold off (though a few are on display in Venice’s Archaeological Museum), as was most of the original artwork.

What remains, however, is dazzling. Admire frescoes by Giovanni da Udine in the Chamber of Callisto, fragments of Giorgione’s Four Elements fresco in the dining hall, and classical sculpture, antique bronzes, paintings, tapestries, and furnishings arranged to evoke the ornate style of Venetian palaces in the 1500s.

Don't miss: The Chamber of Psyche, one of the most richly decorated rooms in the palace.

Established by the last descendant of the noble Querini Stampalia family, the Fondazione Querini Stampalia houses an important art collection and library in the 16th-century palace’s original apartments. Visit this treasure trove of Venetian art—including works by Tintoretto, Tiepolo, and Canaletto—from the Intesa Sanpaolo Collection; then, be sure to see the house museum where the frescoed ceilings, fine furnishings, and important artworks are stunning in their own right.

Alongside the permanent collection, the foundation also holds temporary exhibitions highlighting contemporary artists’ work, plus live concerts and other cultural events in its garden and additional event spaces.

Don’t miss: Giovanni Bellini’s 15th-century masterpiece The Presentation at the Temple.

No two visits to the 14th-century Palazzo Zaguri are quite the same, thanks to its temporary exhibitions that span from the treasures of ancient Egypt and the anatomical discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci to 20th-century tapestries based on works by modern artists. The space was recently restored, making it one of the premier exhibition spaces in Venice with its Trecento architecture and eclectic mix of exhibition topics. The palace is located just a 5-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, so a visit here is easy to pair with a tour of the main sights of the city or a Grand Canal boat cruise.

Don’t miss: The palace’s original architecture, including the imposing facade.

Though it’s housed in one of the most head-turning palaces along the Grand Canal, few people stop inside to visit the Natural History Museum of Venice—but that just means you won’t have to worry about throngs of tourists as you explore the museum’s collection of whale skeletons, prehistoric fossils, and other zoological and botanical collections that will satisfy science lovers of all ages.

If you’re more of an architecture buff, be sure to take in the 13th-century splendor of the Fondego dei Turchi. The facade is a highlight of most Grand Canal boat tours, while you can stop into the museum as you stroll through the Santa Croce neighborhood.

Don’t miss: The nearly complete—and rare—ouranosaurus dinosaur skeleton.