10 must-see museums in Venice

1. Doge's Palace

This magnificent building, whose rooms were decorated by Titian and other outstanding artists, was the residence of the rulers of the Venetian Republic (Doge). It was the seat of the senate, justice, the secret police, the chancellery, the censors and the maritime department.

What's interesting? In the Doge's Palace is the Piombi ("lead prison"). Seven cells are arranged under a roof padded with lead plates, which made the rooms cold in winter and unbearably hot in summer. It was here that the famous womanizer Giacomo Casanova, who was accused of debauchery, communicating with spirits and other crimes, served his sentence. He made a hole in the floor of the cell, but was transferred to a neighboring cell (the warden found the hole, but did not give Giacomo away, as he threatened to be accused of complicity). Had to start preparations again - in 1755 Casanova and his neighbor broke a hole in the ceiling, got out on the roof of the palazzo, descended through a window in one of the halls and left the building. They were the only ones who managed to escape from the walls of the prison.

Address: San Marco, 1.

Ticket price: from €24.

2. Galleria dell'Accademia

This is one of the best collections of works by Venetian artists of the XIII-XVIII centuries (Titian, Tintoretto, Bellini, Giovanni Batista Tiepolo and others). Not only the paintings are of historical value, but also the buildings that house the museum: the church of Santa Maria della Carita (XV century) and the former monastery (XVI century). The masterpieces are not grouped by subject or time of creation, which is confusing at first, but some experts consider it a highlight of the gallery.

What is interesting? Andrea Mantegna's St. George, Tintoretto's Miracle of St. Mark, Paolo Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi, and Titian's Pieta are recognized as gems of the collection.

Ticket price: for adults from €15, for children from €2.

3. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The museum is located in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni building on the Grand Canal. The permanent exhibition includes around 300 works, including works by Picasso, Dalí, Kandinsky, Modigliani, Malevich and Chagall.

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What's interesting. The gems of the collection are Jackson Pollock's "Moon Woman", Salvador Dali's "Birth of Liquid Desires" and Marc Chagall's "Rain".

Ticket price: €16 for adults, free admission for children under 6 years old.

4. Scuola Grande di San Rocco

It took the painter Tintoretto 23 years to decorate the rooms of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco! On the ceiling of the Albergo Hall is the painting "St. Roch in Glory", thanks to which the artist received this order (now they would say - won the tender). The entrance to the hall is decorated with "Annunciation" by Titian. In addition to paintings, there is a unique collection of ceramics and several ancient statues.

What's interesting? The Crucifixion by the same Tintoretto is considered to be the most outstanding of the canvases decorating the building. By the way, in this painting, the master depicted himself as he should - with a palette and brushes.

Ticket price: for adults from €10.

5. Natural History Museum

Want to see what the Earth was like millions of years ago? Welcome to the Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, located in the Fondaco dei Turchi Palace (13th century)! It houses a unique collection including stuffed animals, birds, fish and insects that once lived on our planet. There are also specimens of ancient plants, some of which were collected by scientists back in the XVIII century.

What's interesting? The best exposition of the museum is dedicated to dinosaurs. All specimens are perfectly preserved, despite the fact that many of them are more than 50 million years old. The skeleton of a seven-meter-high uranosaurus, which was found in Africa in 1973, makes an indelible impression on children and adults.

Ticket price: €10 for adults, €7.5 for children 6-14 years old.

6. Necropolis of San Michele

It would seem that what interesting things can expect a tourist in a cemetery? But San Michele is a special case. Firstly, it is located on an island, which automatically puts it in the category of wild things. And secondly, many prominent figures are buried here. For example, writer Joseph Brodsky, composer Igor Stravinsky, theater figure Sergei Diaghilev and mathematician Christian Doppler.

What's interesting? Besides tombstones of famous people you may be interested in the church of San Michele in Isola, built in 1469.

Ticket price: free of charge.

7. Monumental halls of the National Library of Marciana

The library building was erected between 1537 and 1560 to store manuscripts donated to Venice by a cardinal. The construction was supervised by Jacopo Sansovino, and after his death the work was continued by Vincenzo Scamozzi. The rooms were decorated by Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto and other prominent artists.

What's interesting? Visitors who are able to appreciate the colossal architectural heritage will see an elegant row of columns, arcades and frescoes created by the hands of great masters.

Ticket price: free of charge.

8. Museum of Glass on the island of Murano

The former palace of the bishops of Torcello houses collections of glassware from the first century AD to the present day. There is Renaissance jewelry, a collection of antiquities from the excavations of the Enona necropolis, modern dishes and furniture made of Murano glass. The museum has a store, but it is not worth shopping here - other stores on the island offer lower prices and an equally good range of products.

What's interesting? The chair and chandelier made of glass get the most rave reviews. You will also have a unique opportunity to watch the work of the masters up close and learn how real masterpieces are created!

Ticket price: €22 for adults.

9. Ca Pesaro Palace

The grandiose palace, which houses the International Gallery of Modern Art, was built in the second half of the XVII century at the bequest of the noble and very wealthy Pesaro family and designed by Baldassare, the greatest architect of the Venetian Baroque. It houses numerous works by great artists such as Bambini, Pittoni, Crosato, Trevisani, Brusaferro etc.

What's interesting? In addition to the numerous works of art, the building's luxurious facade and its ornate, columned courtyard attract attention.

Ticket price: €15 for adults, €12 for children 6-14 years old.

10. Correr Museum

Located in the building of the Procuratie on Piazza San Marco. It is divided into three parts: the art gallery, the Risorgimento Museum and the exposition of the Teodoro Correr Foundation. It houses documents, books from the library of the former monastery of the Theatines, articles of clothing, weapons, coins, paintings and engravings telling the history of the Venetian Republic.

What's interesting? Among the most valuable exhibits of the museum are the painting "The Two Venetian Women" by Carpaccio and the sketches of the Venetian Carnival by Pietro Longhi.

Tickets cost €25 for adults and €13 for children.