If you explore Venice you cannot but be amazed by the beauty of the Venetian palaces.
With their fine elegance, they seem to share with you the richness and the triumph of the past, when Venice was actually called the Serenissima republic, the Most Serene Republic.
Many of the Venetian palaces in Venice are private and you cannot explore their magnificent interiors. On the other hand, many other buildings host extraordinary museums, exhibitions and events. They not only are the perfect setting for such events, but they also become protagonists.
You will see, reading through our article, the magnificence of their facades, the richness of their statues, frescoes and the incredible beauty of their ballrooms.
Shall we start?
Venetian palaces in Venice: welcome to the timeless elegance of 10 charming palaces you can actually visit
The Venetian palaces are witnesses of the history and the charm of Venice.
While you are strolling around the so-called, narrow Venetian streets, you will admire the magnificent palaces that once belonged to the most noble families of Serenissima.
Nowadays, you can still appreciate the greatness and the splendor of these palaces: some of them have been converted into museums, some others into art collections. Additionally, you can make your dream come true and actually spend the night into the luxurious rooms of some of those palaces that have been transformed into hotels and palace houses.
Here follows a listing of 10 Venetian palaces that you can actually visit in Venice.
10. The most famous Venetian palace in Venice: the symbol of the power of the ciy
One of the most famous Venetian palaces is actually one of the symbols of Venice.
The Doge's palace (in Italian, Palazzo Ducale) shows an outstanding architecture, standing up between Saint Mark's Basilica and the lagoon.
The beauty of its marvelous facade can only be enhanced by the richness of its interiors.
9. The palace that has not been completed but host one of the most important Venetian art collection
Another popular palace of Venice is located in the area of Punta della Dogana.
Palazzo Venier dei Leoni should have been taller and should have rivaled other buildings facing the Grand Canal.
It was bought by the art collector Peggy Guggenheim and today it hosts one of the greatest modern art collections in the world.
If you like the genre, we truly recommend the visit to you.
8. The exquisite symbol of the Renaissance art
One majestic palace is Palazzo Grimani in the district of Castello.
It is very close to the Basilica of Santa Maria Formosa, in the heart of the district, and it is an outstanding example of Renaissance architecture in Venice.
If you visit this great Venetian palazzo you will have the chance to stroll around its stairways, rooms and colonnades. The interiors are precious, enriched by marble, frescoes and an exceptional archaeological collection.
7. The golden palace of Venice
Venetians love gold.
We have a golden basilica and we also have (or had?) a golden palace. It is called Ca d'Oro (literally, House of Gold).
Would you like to know the origin of the name? In the past, it seems that many parts of its incredible gothic style facade were covered by gold leaves!
Nowadays the incredible building shows fairy exteriors as well as magnificent interiors. You can actually visit the palace and stroll around the great rooms which show marvelous views of the Grand Canal.
6. The elegant palace that hosts two incredible museums
Inside this magnificent building, two different museums are hosted.
Inside Ca Pesaro, you can in fact have two experiences: you can either visit the International Gallery of Modern art, or visit the Oriental Art Museum in the upper floors.
The building deserves a visit on its own. Its elegant whiteness overlooks the canal and shows incredible lightness.
5. The last of the Venetian palaces in Venice
This Venetian palazzo was one of the last to be built at the time of the Serenissima.
Palazzo Grassi-Stucky is located in San Marco district, overlooking Campo San Samuele.
In 2005, it was bought by the French entrepreneur François Pinault and it was transformed into a place where he could showcase his incredible art collection. The Japanese architect Tadao Andō renewed the palace, as we can see today.
4. The elegant palace that hosts the Venetian casino
Palazzo Loredan Vendramin Calergi, or Ca Vendramin Calergi, is located in Cannaregio district, not far from the train station.
However, this beautiful palace is now famous for being the seat of the Venice casino.
You can spend a gorgeous night here, but keep in mind that this is also the last known residence of the German composer Richar Wagner. In fact, you can still find here a museum that is dedicated to the composer, hosted inside the apartment in which he once lived.
3. One of the greatest palaces in the city: it hosts the main seat of the University
In the heart of Dorsoduro district there is the seat of the Venetian university.
Ca Foscari is a beautiful gothic palace which offers scenic views of Venice and its canals.
In recent years, the university has decided to open some of the most incredible rooms to visitors.
2. The place where you can discover the golden era of the Serenissima Republic
This is one of the Venetian palaces where you can actually learn more about the history of Venice.
In fact, inside the beautiful rooms of Ca Rezzonico, a museum dedicated to the 18th century is hosted. The Museo del Settecento veneziano, in fact, shows the richness and the attention to details that have characterized that period of time.
You can appreciate splendid chandeliers, extraordinary ballrooms and imagine to having lived during the Venetian golden area. Could you imagine the emotion of attending a Carnival ball inside these sumptuous rooms?
1. The elegant building that hosts the skeleton of a dinosaur
We have decided to put a very interesting place at the top of our list.
In fact, Fondaco dei Turchi is a curiously shaped palace that is located in Santa Croce district.
What can you visit inside this particular building? Well, here you can admire the great findings collected during the expedition of the Italian archaeologist Giancarlo Ligabue.
You can see a great skeleton of a dinosaur but, indeed, you can be amazed here by so much more!