Accademia and Peggy Gugenheim in Venice

The Accadamia and Peggy Guggenheim museum are close to each other and on the same side of the Grand Canal. The Accadamia was founded in 1750 is just off the Rialto bridge. There's 500 years of Venitian art in there. Expect an hour or so to go through there.

To get to the PG museum, turn right when exiting the Accadamia and right again to go around the left side. Walk about 150 feet and turn left into the first narrow alley (you'll see an ATM on the turn). Walk fairly straight and across 1-2 canals and you'll walk right to it. Nice shops as you get near.

The Peggy Guggenheim museum is totally different. This lady was focused on her art. It's just beautiful in there. Expect about an hour or so to go through. If you have the time, you shouldn't miss the Doge's Palace or St. Marks. But, 24 hours is 24 hours.

Having visited both museums, I would suggest skipping PGuggenheim and soaking up the atmosphere of the city itself. after all, you can view this kind of art in other museums, but if you only have 24 hours in Venice, why not just spend some time wandering around the different 'sestieri' (neighbourhoods). In terms of museums, I would put a visit to the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) at the top of my list; you'll need a good 2 hours. Try to reserve tickets ahead of time.

My husband and I just spent a week in Venice and went to the Peggy Guggenheim on our last morning there. I am an art teacher and was curious to see her collection, and it was interesting and all, especially the room that shows the transitions in Jackson Pollock's style, but if you only have one day in Venice, I wouldn't say this museum is a priority. Venice itself is the museum--every day we set out thinking we'd go to the Accademia, and every day Venice just sort of picked us up and carried us along on its current and showed us stunning views at every turn. We never did get to the Accademia! Enjoy!

Kelli, I visited both museums in Dec. I would hit the Accademia when they first open at 8:15am. I used Rick's guide in his book & it took me an hour.But I was the only person in the museum. Definitely allow 1.5 hours. they are renovating it, so many rooms were closed. I was very surprised and happy to Visit the Gugenheim, which is an easy walk from The Accademia. I am not a lover of modern art, but reading the history and seeing Pollock, Picasso up close (your nose to the plexiglass) was exciting. They even have a cafe where you can enjoy lunch. You can do both, and enjoy wandering Venice as well.

To offer a contrary point of view: I had never been a big fan of modern art, so I was very surprised to find the Peggy Guggenheim museum my favorite site in Venice. It is an extremely intimate museum and you are much more "up close" to the art than in other museums, and between the museum's guidebook and my Rick Steve's book I got a great understanding about the artwork. I enjoyed the Accademia a lot less; the art is certainly incredible so perhaps it was just a case of seeing other work like it elsewhere, while the Guggenheim was a totally unique experience.

I had the same experience as Thomas. Not a big fan of expressionism until I went through the PG museum and saw some of the world's best up really close. It's all a matter of what you like. The PG museum was one of our best sites to visit.

CLICK HERE to see an example of Vasily Kandinsky. There's quite a collection in the PG. Before PG, I've never heard of him. I really liked the color and imagination. I even bought a Kandinsky tie in the museum store that I constantly get comments on.

BTW, I still don't like the Pollack paintings. PG sure did. I can do better than him while cleaning my paint brushes (my opinion).