Venice’s cultural life has always been and continues to be very active, in particular, in recent years there has been a strong growth. The city is not only a place of cultural enjoyment, but is also a place of continuous, lively and innovative production: one only has to scroll through the list of event organisers to realise the variety of proposals and the wide range of activities carried out. There are hundreds of organisers of cultural events, including public bodies, foundations, institutions, associations and private entities, and the link between cultural production and tourism is strong. Those staying in the Riviera area often show a strong interest in the activities of Venice’s major cultural production organisations, asking for ways and services to participate in them. Below are some of the most important Venetian cultural production centres frequented by guests staying in the Riviera del Brenta and Mirano area.
The Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice is one of the jewels of Italian theatre architecture and a “sacred” place in the history of music. Founded in 1792, it has been the venue for numerous premieres of operas by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi; the greatest artists of yesterday and today have performed on its stage. The theatre, destroyed by a fire in 1996, was rebuilt and restored to its former glory. In recent years it has returned to host artistic programmes of the highest calibre, with the likes of Myung-Whun Chung, Ton Koopman and Marco Angius; new productions and international productions such as Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo.
In 2004, the reconstructed Fenice was inaugurated by Robert Carsen’s production of Verdi’s La Traviata, which is still considered one of the most fascinating opera productions ever.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a treasure trove of great 20th century masterpieces. During her intense life, the eclectic American patron collected the most important and significant works of the early 20th century avant-garde in her Venetian house-museum in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, including masterpieces by Picasso, Pollock, Kandinsky, Mirò, de Chirico and Dalì. In the spirit of the founder, who opened its rooms to the public every summer, the palace officially became a museum in 1980 and over time has been enriched by the masterpieces of the Hannelore B. and Rudolph B. Schulhof Collection and the beautiful garden of the Hannelore B. Schulhof. Schulhof Collection and the splendid Nasher sculpture garden. The permanent collections are complemented by a wide programme of temporary exhibitions and collateral activities, such as free public presentations and educational workshops, which make the Peggy Guggenheim Collection one of the most popular and visited museums in Italy for 20th century art.
Established in 1869 by the last descendant of the family, Count Giovanni, a cultured man and philanthropist, the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice is a home for art and culture. Inside the 16th century palace, rooms restored by leading contemporary architects are the setting for concerts, meetings and exhibitions.
The house-museum still seems to be inhabited; it preserves the original furnishings and the rich art collections, with over four hundred works by artists of the calibre of Bellini, Tiepolo and Longhi. Since 2018, the Foundation has been permanently exhibiting the valuable collection of paintings, sculptures and furniture owned by the Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia, now Intesa Sanpaolo. Available to visitors are the refined bookshop, the cosy cafeteria and the secret garden with oriental suggestions, for an unusual Venice in which to experience the emotion of art and beauty.
Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, two splendid historic buildings restored by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, are two contemporary art museums in the Pinault Collection. Overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice, they offer major monographic and group exhibitions of the main protagonists of international contemporary art. Through tailor-made guided tours, visitors are taken on an exciting journey to discover the works and artists on display and the splendid architecture that houses them. The cafeterias of the two museums enrich the visitor experience with gourmet proposals ranging from lunches to aperitifs.
From 22 March 2020 Palazzo Grassi presents an exhibition dedicated to the great master Henri Cartier-Bresson and a monographic exhibition of the photographer Youssef Nabil, while Punta della Dogana hosts a group exhibition of around 60 artists.
M9, the first multimedia museum dedicated to the 20th century, is a unique place to learn about the past, question the present and imagine the future.
Designed by the Berlin studio Sauerbruch Hutton, M9 is an example of urban regeneration with an international scope that, by bringing together modern and ancient architecture, contributes to enriching the city centre of Mestre with a new cultural pole. The museum offers the visitor an educational and engaging experience with 60 interactive multimedia installations and 8 thematic sections offering a journey of discovery of the social, economic and costume changes of 20th-century Italy. A floor entirely dedicated to temporary exhibitions, the auditorium and the covered cloister extend the cultural offer and periodically host events open to the public.
Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, home of the Venice Casino, is among the most beautiful palaces overlooking the Grand Canal.
Official location of the Venice Carnival dinner show, the complex has a very large main floor where the ballroom opens up, used together with the adjoining rooms for parties, conventions, shows and press conferences. On the same floor, the Wagner Restaurant offers the exclusive pleasure of a refined dinner amidst Palma il Giovane’s paintings and Gian Battista Crosato’s frescoes. The mezzanine floor houses the flats of maestro Richard Wagner, who lived and composed here: the museum rooms, managed by the Richard Wagner Association of Venice, can be visited free of charge upon reservation. On the top floor, the Venice Casino completes the offer.
