Venice - Museums Which one to see

Definitely see as many churches as possible--have you seen Frari Church? The Rezzonico Museum is certainly worth seeing as it is in an old palace--the art and furnishings are wonderful. Have coffee at Florian--pricey but worth it. Have you taken the tour of Doges Palace?

hi, I'd recommend the I Frari Church too, and if you're going there, try not to miss the Scuola Grande di San Rocco which is behind the church - full of wonderful paintings by Tintoretto. It was one of the highlights of my trip to Venice this summer. One of the biggest contemporary art shows in the world, the Venice Biennale, is happening till 22 November 2009. The exhibits are all in palazzi all over the city, with two main exhibition venues at the Arsenale and the Giardini.

As Italian as it is non-Italian (what is Italy without it's interesting visitors?) I would not miss the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The collection and the grounds and the house are sort of like a time trip back into the world of contemporary art at its apex. I thought it was one of the highlights of my Venice trip - I wouldn't miss it.

http://www.florence-journal.com/photos/venice/dsc_0181jpg.html

http://www.guggenheim-venice.it

Kent

Yes we have seen the sights but would like to see some of the museums we have not been too. Yes we will pop into some of the Churches as we go as per the other posters. What about the Peggy Guggenheim or the Accamdemia are they worth the extra over and above the San Marco Museum Pass?

Your last post: "Yes we have seen the sights but would like to see some of the museums we have not been too."

The only museum you've listed as having been to is the Correr. Of course, in Venice there's not a bright line distinction between "museum" and "sight", as many of the sights contain significant art.

The Accademia is considered by some authorities as the best in the world for Venetian Renaissance art. And for modern/20th century art there's the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Ca' Pesaro international modern art gallery.

And the following "sights" have significant artwork: St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Frari Church, Scuola San Rocco, San Giorgio Maggiore curch, Ca' Rezzonico, and the Church of San Polo.

Shelley, I really second the Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim museum. The Accademia is right at the Rialto stop. Great Venetian renaissance art. The PG museum is a short walk through some back streets and interesting shops along some side canals.

We recently did our second trip to Venice and really enjoyed the Accademia and especially the Scuola San Rocco (Tintoretto rocks!). Frari Church was interesting. We didn't get to do Ca' Rezzonico - that's for next time. I was underwhelmed by the Peggy Guggenheim. The house (and that's what it is) is too small for the artwork that's displayed, IMHO. The RS self tours for all these are very good.

hi Shelley, I guess which museum to see depends on what you're interested in, or which era of art history you enjoy. Every visitor will have his/her favourites. The Accademia is full of treasures from the Venetian Renaissance and offers a wonderful historical perspective of Venice's most glorious artistic era. The Ca'Rezzonico is also called the 'museum of 18th-century Europe' and focuses on art of this period. It displays rooms with rococo furnishings and paintings of the era, including works by Giambattista Tiepolo. I think it was Rick Steves who wrote that Venice is a great place to see the art that was commissioned from the great artists 'in situ' - displayed as they were originally intended to be seen, whether in the churches or the 'Scuole'. That's one of the pleasures of Venice, you get to understand the art better and get a vivid sense of the period in which they were made, simply because many works are still displayed 'in situ'. The museums and churches that everyone's recommended here would be on the top ten list for most visitors, I reckon.