Some museums are not open on Monday and others close at 2:00pm. Also the opening times very depending on the season.

Musei Civici Veneziani website (there is an English version) has information on the following museums along with information on Facilities for Scholars, Exhibitions and Events, Educational Services...

• Doges Palace
• Museo Correr
• Clock Tower
• Palazzo Mocenigo
• Ca’ Rezzonico
• Carlo Goldoni’s house
• Ca’ Pesaro
• Museo Fortuny
• Glass Museum
• Lace Museum
• Museum of Natural History
• Civic Tower

The big churches of  l Frari (Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari), San Zanipolo (The Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Psolo), La Salute (Santa Maria della Salute) and of course San Marco (Basilica di San Marco) all contain impressive works of art from mosaics to paintings to stain glass windows to funeral monuments. The smaller parish churches (chiesa) also contain some beautiful works of art including the Chiesa Madonna dell’Orto, which contains several works by Tintoretto. On the outside of most churches (near the main entrance) you will find a plaque that lists the artists who’s works you will find inside.

Note: The opening and closing times of churches vary from church to church.

During my last trip I popped into the Church of San Zaccaria near San Marco in the late afternoon on a dark and rainy day and the ambience was just wonderful. You could still see the paintings, but it was a totally different atmosphere from daylight. There is even a damp little crypt that I enjoyed exploring along with works of art by Bellini, Tintoretto & Tiepolo. 

The following are some of my favorite museums:

Casa di Goldoni was once the home of the Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni. Now houses the Institute for Theatrical Studies. Note everything is in Italian. There is no English translations, but if your Italian isn’t up to par the courtyard of the palazzo is worth a peak.

The Collezione Peggy Guggenheim doesn’t contain paintings by Titian or Tiepolo, but it does contain an interesting collection of modern art including a large number of Surrealist paintings collected by the eccentric American Peggy Guggenheim. She purchased the unfinished  palazzo in the 1940’s and spent the rest of her life here. One of the last private individuals to own a gondola (a purple one no less). You can see her gondola at the The Museo Navale. The museum fronts the Grand Canal and there is a terrace with a wonderful view looking towards Piazza San Marco. Definitely worth at list one visit. The photo below is looking towards the Santa Maria della Salute. To the right is a low white building this is the unfinished Palazzo Venier dei Leoni which houses the Guggenheim collection. The terrace jets out a little into the Grand Canal.

Fondazione Querini Stampalia is a small delightful museum. Check to see if there is a concert being held here while you are in Venice.

The collection of the Gallerie dell’Accademia (The Academy of Fine Arts) chronicles the development of Venetian painting from the Renaissance until 18th Century when the Republic came to an end. Venice  produced some of the Renaissance’s best painters including Titian, Tintorreto, Tiepolo, Carpaccio. All these artists are represented in the collection.

Galleria Franchetti holds a collection of Veneto Byzantine Art from the 11th century - 13th centuries. Perhaps the collection’s finest work is Mantegna’s painting of St. Sebastian. The collection is housed in the beautiful Ca’ d’Oro. Both the building and the collection are well worth visiting. Below are photos of the beautiful mosaic floor, the well head in the courtyard and the exterior of the palazzo.

Museo del Settecento Veneziano is housed in the Ca’ Rezzonico, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture completed during the decline of the Republic. The palazzo was restored in the 1930s. Furnished with furniture and other decorative items that a 18th century Venetian noble might have used to furnish their own palatial palazzo. During the most recent renovation the third and fourth floors were renovated to accommodate the collection of Egidio Martini. This remarkable collection includes Venetian paintings from the 17th and 18th century. 

Museo Correr holds an impressive collection of artifacts and documents that relate to the Venetian Republic. The art gallery includes paintings by both Venetian and European painters. Along with admission to this museum your ticket includes admission to the Doge Palace, Museo Archeologico and the Biblioteca Marciana.

Museo Vetrario (glass Museum) is quite interesting. After walking around the museum you will see why Venice is renowned for her glass industry. If you are thinking about purchasing Murano glass try Barovier & Toso. One of the oldest firms, they specialize in traditional designs.

Palazzo Fortuny houses a museum dedicated to Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo. He was perhaps most famous for his textile designs including his famous “delphos” dresses. But he was also a painter, photographer and set designer. Early in the 20th Century he bought this palazzo for use as both his home and studio. Today, it contains a collection of his work that showcases his rich artistic life in a magical and you might say theatrical setting. Be sure to check to see that the museum is open because recently it has been closed due to an extensive renovation project.

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is filled painting  by Tintoretto who spent more than 20 years decorating the meeting rooms. For me as a admirer of Tintoretto this was a real treat.

The Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni contains one of Carpaccio’s truly remarkable Venetian picture cycles. The other cycle is in the Academia. The one in the scuola illustrates the lives of the Dalmatian saints George (of the dragon fame), Tryphone and Jerome. Unlike the Scuola San Rocco the meeting rooms here are smaller and more intimate. And I believe this is still a functioning scuola. Don’t get me wrong I think the meetings rooms in Scuola San Rocco are quite beautiful, but it can be a little chilly especially during the winters months. Of course both scuolas should be on everyone’s “must see” list.   

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