Venetian contrasts
Attractions
In Venice, almost every house, palace, church organizes exhibitions and shows. The city is brimming with events and performances, and an exhibition guide can be the size of a bus schedule for the entire year. It's easy to get confused, and not finding the right museum is even easier. It is most convenient to search from the water, since almost all significant places have one of their facades facing the water.
Our Musei Civici di Venezia ticket included Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Palazzo Mocenigo, Museo di Storia Naturale, Ca'Pesaro, Museo del Vero di Murano, Museo del Merletto di Burano, Casa di Carlo Goldoni. The most popular work schedule is the schedule from 10 to 18. And only Palazzo Ducale starts the working day from 8.30
For 2 days we did not have time to escape to the islands of Murano and Burano. So we did not visit the museum of glass in Murano and lace in Burano. Also, old Goldoni did not wait for us at the entrance.
In addition, there was an irresistible desire, but no time to visit the paid museums of the Basilica of San Marco (the temple itself is free, but after standing in a huge queue).
Of interest is the bell tower of San Marco - the oldest in Venice. You can climb to a height of almost 100 meters for 8 euros. But if during the day the climb is supported by information from the guide, then in the evening you will be completely alone at the top.
The rest of the listed museums we visited with pleasure. So let's go through them in 2 words.
Piazza San Marco
(all landmarks to the left-right of the starting position facing the cathedral)
Of course, from the very beginning you want to get into the very heart of Venice - Piazza San Marco. Firstly, the most eminent places for a mandatory visit are concentrated here, and secondly, it is simply beautiful here.
The eye-catching Cathedral of San Marco, dedicated to the patron saint of Venice.
The style of the cathedral is difficult to ascertain as it was completed and rebuilt over the course of 12 centuries. And starting from the 11th century, it became a private Doge's chapel. The southern part of the facade of the cathedral goes directly to the courtyard of the Doge's Palace.
The amount of gold used to decorate the interior of the cathedral, which occupies 4000 square meters, is striking. m. The most popular decoration technique in the Middle Ages was fresco, but in the humid climate of Venice it was poorly preserved. For this reason, the mosaic technique was preferred, and the most durable and stainless material is gold.
The pride of the cathedral is the golden altar of Palo d'Oro. It consists of a gold plate 3.48 x 1.40 meters and is decorated with a stunning amount of precious stones, most of which were brought from the 4th Crusade, after looting in Byzantium.
The altar and treasures are no longer included in the free part of visiting the temple and are subject to inspection only after payment of 2 and 3 euros, respectively. Here you can also order a guided tour of the Chambers of the Patriarchs, which is held only on Fridays for 10 euros. Before entering the cathedral, you will be asked to leave your bags in the luggage room, which is located on the left side of the entrance to the cathedral.
Opposite the cathedral is a 99m high bell tower. it was originally built in the 900s, but in 1902, after many fires, earthquakes and reconstructions, it collapsed without harming anyone. In 1912, its exact copy was rebuilt. At the base of the bell tower in 1549 a wonderful lodge was built, on which the Armed Guards stood during the meetings of the Great Council.
The climb to the bell tower costs 8 euros and you can enjoy the panoramic view from 9 am to 9 pm.
To the left of the cathedral is the Clock Tower, which was completed in 1599.
Above the tower is a terrace where 2 bronze Moors strike the bell. Under the terrace is a winged lion and a semicircular terrace, where there is a statue of the Madonna with babies in her arms. Below is a complex clock face that indicates the seasons, the passage of the sun through the constellations, the times and the phases of the moon.
If you wish, you can get here on a tour for 12 euros. But you need to pre-order it online or by phone.
To the right of the cathedral is the Doge's Palace and a little further on the embankment, with a vaporetto pier. It is here that crowds of tourists arrive who have chosen water transport in order to get to the magnificent square. On the way to the embankment you will see 2 columns brought from the East and placed here in 1125. On the columns are statues of St. Theodore and St. Mark. Saint Theodore was the first patron of the city, but after the election of Saint Mark as the new patron, it was decided not to dismantle the statue of Theodore, out of harm's way.
Public executions took place between these columns.
The entrance to the Correr Museum, as well as the Archaeological Museum and the National Library, you will find behind you if you look at the facade of the Cathedral of San Marco. The museums are located in one building, called the building of the New Procurations. This is a huge monolithic complex surrounding Piazza San Marco from 3 sides. You will find the entrance in the middle of the shortest of the facades, looking at the Cathedral of San Marco.
Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
Summer season 10-19, winter 10-17.
In addition to numerous interesting documents from the era of the Most Serene Republic, the study of the development of the city and the daily life of the Venetians. Also here is the rich Pinakothek, which preserves paintings of the Venetian school from the 14th to the 16th century and works by artists of the north.
In the departments of the Archaeological Museum you will find collections of Greco-Roman antiquity, along with Egyptian and Babylonian sections, specimens of jewelry and precious stones.
In the halls of the library you will find the works of outstanding ornamental artists. Since 1536, there is a large collection of books by Cardinal Bessarione, which he donated to the city.
Entrance to the rooms of the Archaeological Museum and the Library through the Correr Museum. They are located on 2 floors and a visit to all 3 museums was included in our "ticket". Here, as in Barcelona, there is also a ban on shooting, but with a bit of luck and composure, you can still take a few pictures.
The most striking thing is the building itself, in which the exhibitions are held. This is really a palace with huge rooms, high ceilings and artfully ornamented walls, doorways and, of course, flights of stairs.
The building itself, coupled with the collections, suggests the boundless wealth of its owners.
Palazzo Ducale
Summer season 8.30-19, winter 8.30-17.30.
The palace-residence of the rulers of Venice and at the same time the seat of government and courts from the 9th century until the fall of the Most Serene Republic. The first building was destroyed by fire, due to the very frequent arson during popular uprisings-parties. In the 14th century, the building was completely rebuilt on the old foundation and now has a clear oriental touch.
Administrative premises were located on the first floor of the palace, on the second there were two meeting rooms of the government, the halls of the judicial departments and the private apartments of the Doge, on the third - the halls of the Upper Councils of Government and Justice. Prisons were also located here, and everyone's favorite Bridge of Sighs connects the old prisons with the new ones built in the 16th century.
The palace is huge and truly mesmerizing.
Each room gives off chic and brilliance, undisguisedly emphasizing the solid position of its owners. This is a vivid example of what the palace of real rulers should be like. The works and art of the masters in decorating it are amazing and breathtaking. It took at least a century to paint and decorate the premises of the palace, not to match today's times, I think. There is really something to see and something to share impressions.
You can wander around the palace for hours. Therefore, after examining each floor, we were surprised that this was not all. And after spending several hours already, we were pleasantly surprised that there were still prisons left, which are a rather depressing sight for especially impressionable persons, but undoubtedly deserve a visit.
The entrance to the palace is from the sea. And then we rejoiced at our Internet purchase of tickets.
Having passed all the tourist extras, we freely passed through a special passage without a queue. After that, we find ourselves in the courtyard, where a wonderful well is located, and the southern facade of the Cathedral of San Marco is also visible. After entering the courtyard, we turned right and went up the stairs to the palace itself. Going around the palace, we tirelessly lifted our heads, since the most interesting, I would say, is depicted on the ceiling. I have never seen such a refined finish and fullness of images and paintings anywhere.
During the tour, we met excursions several times and, having overheard a couple of stories, we realized that for the full impression, of course, we need a guide. But with him, you can be stuck here for a not decently long time.
The Halls of the Collegium, the Senate and the Grand Council evoke an incomparable feeling. In the hall of the great council is the world's largest painting "Paradise". Its dimensions surprise 22x7m.
An old and almost blind artist, Tintoretto, asked for the help of students from his school to complete the canvas. The canvas of this artist decorates more than one room of the palace, but this is really the largest.
The themes of many paintings and ceiling moldings are dedicated, of course, to St. Mark and the worship of the Doge to him.
Worth noting are the Armory Halls of the Council of Ten. Since the 14th century, the halls have been a storehouse of weapons on the occasion of popular riots. Today there is a collection of weapons and armor, the appearance and condition of which will amaze the mind of anyone who is somehow interested in them.
Many rooms and halls were rebuilt, and the paintings were repainted after a heavy fire in 1577. In one of the halls you will also see a clock with a counterclockwise dial. This is one of the few clocks left in Venice with such a non-standard direction of movement of the arrow.
In the end, as I said, you will walk through the prisons, which were divided into Piombi (lead), located under a lead roof, and Pozzi (wells), where the most dangerous criminals were imprisoned.
Through the Bridge of Sighs you will pass to the new prisons (relatively: )), from which the ubiquitous Casanova managed to escape.
Ca'Rezzonico
Summer season 10-18, winter 10-17. closed on Tuesdays.
8 euro (or per balloon with Museum Pass).
Museum of Venetian Art, offering frescoes, antique furniture, interior decoration and personal items for review. You will visit the dance hall, the pastel room (with a collection of pastel portraits of Rosalba Carriera) and other rooms named after famous artists of the 18th century. Of particular interest are Longhi's paintings, showing scenes from the everyday life of the Venetians.
On the 3rd floor there is an exhibition of paintings by artists of the Venetian school from the 15th to the 20th century.
The halls, made in dark colors with wooden parquet, are conducive to relaxation and reflection.
The museum is definitely worth the time spent on it and will appeal to both art lovers and ordinary onlookers like us.
Museo di Storia Naturale
Fondaco dei Turchi, Santa Croce 1730
summer season 10-18, winter 9-17.
8 euro (or per balloon with Museum Pass).
The Natural History Museum is housed in the Fondaco de Turchi palace, built in the Veneto-Byzantine style for the Pesaro family in the 13th century and restored in 1860.
The museum presents 11 exhibition halls dedicated to paleontology for inspection. Research and nature. Here you will also find an extraordinary new display that allows you to immerse yourself in the technology of the future. And if you are with a child, then he will play with him until the evening.
In fact, the child will like the whole museum there, which is why we plan to go there with our daughter when we return to Venice. But adults will also find something to do there.
The museum is very beautiful and filled with exhibits from all eras. I'm ashamed to admit it, but this is my first natural history museum of this magnitude. Particularly impressionable trophy skins and animal heads in the hunting hall will seem too inhuman.
Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo
San Stae 1992
Summer season 10-17, winter 10-16. Closed on Mondays.
5 euro (or per balloon with Museum Pass).
Museum-residence, presenting the interior decoration of the 18th century period, collections of dresses, accessories, books, fabrics and figurines.
In fact, the museum, in comparison with Ca Rezzonnico, for example, does not impress with its collection, although it deserves attention. The residence is small and will not take you much time. I would recommend it as an optional museum included in the Museum Pass, but I would not pay 5 euros separately.
By the way, the Museum of Natural History, Mocenigo Palace and Ca Pesaro are within a 5-minute walk from each other and are considered as the 2nd concentration of museums after Piazza San Marco.
Summer season 10-18, winter 10-17. Closed on Mondays.
8 euro (or per balloon with Museum Pass).
On the first floor of the museum there are modern collections (19th and 20th century) of art paintings, sculptures and graphics by Italian masters. Temporary exhibitions are located on the 2nd floor - now there is an exhibition of oriental art.
Loud gallery, both in quantity and quality. A large number of interesting paintings presented in bright and spacious halls. Unfortunately. Our time was limited, so we were never able to linger and completely fall into the abyss of emotions. But even for a brief digression into the madness of colors and thoughts, we had enough. Definitely deserves attention, the time of your favor.
On the second floor, we saw samurai uniforms, collections of trophy weapons of warriors, oriental robes of young ladies, and hat sets of oriental residents.
We reveled in the beauty and uniqueness of musical instruments of all kinds, tea collections and jewelry boxes for women.
The museum is also notable for its content and proper presentation. After visiting it, you really, at least a fraction, but join the everyday life of Japanese masters.
The lack of time allowed us to visit only a fraction of the museum beau monde of glorious Venice. The following museums were overlooked, which are without a doubt worth seeing.
And, of course, the glass museum and the lace museum on the islands of Murano and Burano, which remained in the Museum Pass.
By the way, there is also a Chorus pass for 10 euros, which allows you to visit 16 of the largest and most famous churches in the city.
Please note that the churches in Venice are not just churches, but partly museums, presenting unique murals, works of painters and architects, although, of course, not to the same extent as galleries.
