History Museums in Venice

THE 10 BEST Venice History Museums

History Museums in Venice

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  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

What travelers are saying

  • ItalianTranslations
    Trento, Italy65 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ca’ Rezzonico is stunning Venetian Villa with splendid painting collection. The enormous ballroom and numerous other rooms organized on three floors are simply splendid.
    The paintings collection is impressive. We spent three wonderful hours. Highly recommended for anyone is interested in Venetian architecture and art.
    Written January 18, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • jon jack r
    Standlake, UK31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a wonderful surprise. A fabulous interior and a fascinating story. Fortuny and his wife emerge as true Spanish with pasión, producing an extraordinary spectrum of beauty in this wonderful Venetian palace. Costumes, fabrics, stage sets and lighting, photography, painting, engraving. Ok - we never really get to see the production process that made the fabrics that are still in demand. Fortuny himself remains elusive. But immersing ourselves in this place was like hunting for his ghost. A forensic adventure. Go and see if you can find him!
    Written December 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tommo
    Melbourne, Australia50,431 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is a Renaissance-style palace, located on the Grand Canal in San Marco.

    The palace was built in the 16th century.

    It was the residence of the Grimani family until 1806.
    Written February 29, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • jon jack r
    Standlake, UK31 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ok - this was poorly lit and often a series of Things in Glass Cases with Little Explanations on the Wall. I hate that kind of thing. But there was something compelling about this place. A sideways look at Italy and Venice. A 1940s manned torpedo with an hilarious story from a British naval commander. A 1930s naval gunnery computer as big as a room. An 18th century barge big as the room. A huge model of an Armada period galleass. And, somewhere in the eves, a series of models explaining the gondola and its mysterious forcola (or rowlock). Unpretentious and unexpected. Wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
    Written December 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ctsounis
    New York City, NY1,022 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The museum has a -papyrus dated 553 from Byzantine Ravenna by Goth (German) Christians to the Archbishop of Ravenna. This is a high point of the Museum, There is a book dated the 14th century called the Alexander Romance in Arabicwith illustrations by Pseudo Callisthenes. We were unable to take photos. I was amazed by logos on icons that indicated aristocratic Greek Families. Buy a book, even in Greek to see icons.
    Written October 14, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Margaret B
    Glasgow, UK55 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spent about 45 mins . Interesting to view models of Leonardos ideas. Some are working models which you can try.
    Slightly aloof attendant not particularly welcoming
    Written May 8, 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • petermack2011
    Bungay, UK394 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Located next to the Saint Maria dei Frari (church) in Campo San Frari this is another Venice freebie. A beautiful courtyard is accessible. The area of San Polo is quiet and off the main tourist path so it is generally quieter and more relaxed. Access into the small museum was free so another bonus to those visiting Venice on a budget.
    Written October 3, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jeff D
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is one of the churches where Vivaldi's students performed. They originally lived in the building next door, which is now a hotel. In addition to the beautiful church, there is a small, but fascinating, museum that has artifacts from earlier centuries that show how children were left at the orphanage. Most interesting for me was the display of musical instruments from past centuries. It is interesting to climb the stairs and see where the performers played and sang, and to examine the church's organ.

    In the museum there is also a wonderful painting, called "Dinner at the House of Simeon the Pharisee." The painter is from Brescia. He is usually referred to as Moretto da Brescia.

    There are also performances held at the church in the evening. I attended one and it was very well done. The music was all Vivaldi.
    Written November 6, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Maggi713
    Baltimore, MD12,090 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    While researching unusual things to do in Venice, I came across the Rubelli Collection and decided we should ask to come for a visit. Some years ago, we had the opportunity to visit and be in awe of Fortuny Fabrics. So, in the afternoon, we had an appointment at the Collezione Storica e degli Archivi Rubelli in the Palazzo Ca' Pisani Rubelli to see the amazing collection of historical fabrics produced by the Rubelli company. Based in Venice, with additional showrooms in Milan, Rome, Paris, London, Moscow, Dubai, and in ten US cities, it is a major producer of fine fabrics and other materials.

    We were met by Elisabetta Giuriolo (Director of Fondazione Rubelli) and by Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli, the patriarch of the family and the 4th generation to own and operate Rubelli. His sons and daughter now run the company. We were able to sit and chat with Mr. Rubelli about his family’s history and the making of fine silk fabrics. They have collected over 6,000 textile documents dating from the second half of the 5th century to today. Among the oldest and most precious documents of the Collection are priceless Coptic fabrics, velvets and silk damasks chiseled and richly covered in gold, dating back to the 15th century, and a precious fragment of 16th century velvet "altobasso" decorated with the motif of the rosette surmounted by a crown: a fabric exclusively used for the stoles worn by the Procurators of the Serenissima (the “most serene” rulers of the Republic of Venice). Elizabetta took the time to show us drawers and drawers of the most beautiful fabrics we have ever seen. One of their latest projects was the Bolshoi Theater in Russia. This was a most extraordinary and delightful afternoon in Venice.
    Written May 18, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MZMAMAMD
    Southeast, MI12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a phenomenal experience with Emanuele. He is very personable and made the day interesting not only for my teens but also my folks. We had a great boat tour of the grand canal and then we visited Murano and Burano.
    Both were great but Burano was a revelation. Such a picturesque little town. Great shops and a nice place to have a glass of wine or do some shopping. 5 stars, he’s a terrific guide and a genuinely nice person.
    Written August 12, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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