Venice Summer 2021 – Chapter 2

We have selected some unusual places to take you to a secret and little-known, but invariably fascinating, Venice.

1) Palazzo Vendramin Grimani, an elegant historic residence on the Grand Canal that was owned by Doge Pietro Grimani in the 18th century.

Visits to the palace run from Thursday to Sunday. The exhibition itinerary reveals the history of the building and the families who lived there. It also presents works of art, collections started by the Grimani family. You can admire both ancient works (tapestries, paintings, furniture and other objects) and contemporary ones including those belonging to the painter Yvan Salomone and photographs by the artist Patrick Tourneboeufas well as the photographic project by the photographic artist Ugo Carmeni.

2) Casa dei Tre Oci hosts the photographs of Mario De Biasi covering a period from 1947 to 2003.

The exhibition traces the photoreporter’s entire production, from the beginning of his collaboration with the magazine Epoca to his latest works. Through ten sections, the exhibition moves from the story of great historical events, to exotic journeys, portraits of famous and powerful people, scenes of everyday life, anonymous faces, then moving on to the conceptual and abstract.

3) Doge’s Palace – Secret Itineraries offers a journey through the centuries of the Serenissima where the most important activities relating to state administration and the exercise of power took place.

The secret itineraries are accessible only with a guide and only by reservation. 

4) The Island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni is completely occupied by a monastery. The Armenian community holds an impressive cultural heritage and a number of artistic works of enormous value. Wonders include canvases by Tiepolo, a sculpture by Canova, a unique Egyptian mummy and the colourful rose garden where the monks collect flower petals to make fragrant rose jam.

5) San Pantalon: the church’s unfinished façade might be misleading and not entice you to enter. But once you’ve crossed the threshold, you’ll find a spectacular work of art: 443 square metres of ceiling covered by what looks like a fresco, but is actually 40 canvases joined together representing the martyrdom of San Pantalon.

6) Labyrinth of Borges one of the most enchanting places in Italy that is now officially open to the public. Situated on the Island of San Giorgio, the labyrinth is a true enchantment of recent construction. It was created as a tribute to Borges’ work “The Garden of Forking Paths”, whose theme is time and whose ultimate meaning is only revealed at the end.