The artistic side of Venice

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Venice is home to a number of highlights including its vibrant carnival where the city comes alive with colourful masks and elaborate costumes showcasing the very best of Venetian tradition.

Venice is a city like no other, a place where art and history combine to create a truly magical experience. Let’s take a look at the artistic side of Venice through these extraordinary museums.

Away from the usual museum crowds in Burano, you’ll get to witness the island’s most famous craft: lacemaking. In fact, the museum building used to be a lacemaking school. There's an epic collection dating back from the 16th century to the present day. Seeing the incredible detail that goes into Renaissance lace is enough reason to visit!

The Venetians seriously love their boats and their waterways, and there’s one place that magnificently showcases this. Located in an 11th century palazzo in Campo San Basio, you’ll find yourself anchored by the 42 exhibitions housed in this naval history museum. There are so many boats to discover - from gondolas like you’ve never seen before to 16th century warships and historically significant ships. Come, sail away with us!

Yes, Palazzo Mocenigo is the very same regal palace where Lord Byron lived with his menagerie in 1818! Today, this fabulously chandelier-clad building located by the Grand Canal has become a celebration of historic fashion! The ground floor usually boasts temporary exhibitions, while the main floor (known as the piano nobile) boasts several collections of grand and glamorous outfits, from embroidered silk waistcoats to glamorous ball gowns. You’ll also get to inhale Venice’s fascinating history with perfume, as there’s a special exhibition all about fragrance.

A pinnacle of Venetian artistry has to be its history of glassblowing. The highly treasured glassblowers moved to the island of Murano to ease the temperatures caused by their furnaces in the city centre. Located in a grand gothic palace on the island, the Murano Glass Museum is the ideal place to understand its evolution, which is laid out in chronological order. Unsurprisingly the museum also hosts the world’s largest collection of Murano glass, including some pieces that date back to the 15th century.

Wander into this 15th century Venetian-Gothic palazzo and enter a world of fashion and design from the early 1900s to 1920s. As the former home and personal atelier of the Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny, you’ll find an array of luxury fabrics and textile designs, as well as photography and paintings. There’s an essence of theatre, romance, and eccentricity here, which perfectly fits the city it stands in.

Overlooking Piazza San Marco, the incredibly decadent Doge’s Palace is Venice’s most visited museum. This gothic palace was first built in the 9th century for a Venetian duke, but it’s been rebuilt and expanded several times over the centuries. In the 14th to 18th centuries the palace held the city government. Today you'll see a glamorous mishmash of architectural styles, as you visit the council chamber, the grand inner courtyard, former prisons (including a chamber of torments), the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Apartment, and the Golden Staircase.

Located in an old Venetian church that has history dating back to the 10th century, is the Museo della Musica, which celebrates liuteria: the Italian craft of musical instrument-making. You’ll find classical stringed instruments from 18th century Venice. Given its niche, it’s a delightfully quiet museum away from the usual throng of visitors.

Are you ready to explore the artistic side of Venice? Citalia are the UK’s leading Italy specialist with over 90 years' experience in tailoring holidays to Italy. Experts are on hand every step of the way to ensure you make memories to last a lifetime. It’s never too late to start planning your Italian escape!              

Visit citalia.com to discover the real Italy on your next adventure. Andiamo!

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