17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo
17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo. Once home to the important Mocenigo family; it now houses the Venice Museum of Textiles and Costumes.
Originally of gothic style, it was heavily modified in the 17th century and was home to one of the most influential families in Venice; seven members of which became Doges, between 1414 and 1778.
The exhibition aims to reconstruct, the everyday life of the nobility of Venice between the 17th and 18th centuries. Particular attention is paid to fashion and costumes. The clothes and accessories on display, are made of textured fabrics, embellished with embroidery and lace, documenting the skill of the craftsmen (weavers, tailors, lace makers, embroiderers, etc.); who contributed to the creation of the refined and luxurious elegance, for which the Venetians were famous.
Left to the city in 1975, Palazzo Mocenigo was opened to the public in 1985; as the Study Centre of the History of Fabrics and Costumes. Renewed and expanded in 2013, the itinerary through 20 rooms; evokes different aspects of the life and activities of Venetian noblemen of the time, with great attention to fashion and costumes.
A section of the new rooms, hosts a new collection unique in Europe: the “Museum of Perfume”. Combining sensorial experience and multimedia presentation; you can discover ancient soaps and fragrances invented in Venice centuries ago.
Additionally, in all the rooms of Palazzo Mocenigo, you can admire paintings, mostly dated to the 18th century; giving you a vivid idea of what a Venetian noble palace looked like at that time.
Building and History
The Museum of Palazzo Morcenigo – The Morcenigo Family – Museum Itinary
Location – Opening Times – Tickets and Concessions
Top 25 Recommended Museums
Links (internal-external)
- Historic palazzo of important Venetian noble family
- Everyday life of the nobility of Venice between the 17th and 18th centuries
- Venetian fashion, costumes and textiles on display and new section dedicated to perfumes
- Cost: €10,00 (adults), €7,50 (reduced)
- Suggested duration: 2 – 3 hours
- Vaporetto stop: San Stae (Line 1)
Note: Today, the entrance to the palazzo is on the street facade, just a few metres south of the San Stae vaporetto stop. Confusingly, there is another large Palazzo Mocenego complex, actually overlooking the Grand Canal, just west of the Sant’ Angelo vaporetto stop; in the northern San Marco district.
Building and History 17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo
Palazzo Mocenigo, is a large building of gothic origin, extensively rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th century; when it attained its present appearance.
From 17th century, the palazzo was the residence of the San Stae branch of the Mocenigo family, one of the most important and influential families of the Venetian patriciate, seven members of which became doges between 1414 and 1778.
The external facades looking on to the street (salizàda) and San Stae canal, are characterised by their large “Serlian” windows; a common feature in Venetian architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries. These are three-light windows, with a central opening and a semi-circular arch above and two lower windows at the sides with entablature; that also make it possible to alternate the piano nobile with mezzanines.
Today, the entrance to the palazzo is on the street facade, highlighting its extension on the left side; which was the result of the acquisition of adjacent buildings. With a large central hall or “pòrtego”, that was used for official functions and goes right through the building and is flanked by the other rooms; its interior is typical of all Venetian patrician homes.
Until recently, the Mocenigo family still lived in the palazzo and on the first piano nobile; one can see Rococo or Neo-classic style frescoes and furnishing, that mostly go back to the second half of the 18th century.
Many of the rooms are decorated with paintings celebrating the family’s glories; the climax of which was when Alvise IV was doge, (1763-1778). Of considerable interest are the ceiling frescoes, completed in 1787 for the marriage of Alvise IV’s nephew to Laura Corner. These were the work of Jacopo Guarana (Verona, 1720 – Venezia, 1808), Giambattista Canal (Venezia, 1745 – 1825) and Giovanni Scajaro (around second half of 18th C). Of particular note are also the root wood doors and engraved, gilded cornices.
THE MUSEUM OF PALAZZO MORCENIGO
In 1945, Alvise Nicolò, the family’s last descendent; bequeathed the palazzo to the city on the condition it became an “Art Gallery to complete the Correr Museum“. Thirty years later, following his wife’s death, it was then left to the city. Opened to the public in 1985, it became the seat of the “Study Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes and Perfume”. It houses the vast collections of ancient fabrics and clothes, belonging to the Venice Civic Museums; most of which came from the Correr, Guggenheim, Cini and Grassi collections.
Palazzo Mocenigo, also contains a well-stocked library; specialising in the history of fabrics, costumes, and fashion. The library is situated in the rooms on the first-floor piano-nobile, that have not conserved their original furnishings. The stocks of fabrics and costumes are situated on the first mezzanine and on the top-floor.
Completely renewed and expanded at the end of 2013, the itinerary winds its way through twenty rooms on the first piano-nobile; therefore doubling the amount of exhibition area, compared to when it opened in 1985.
As a whole, the rooms skilfully evoke the different aspects of the life and activities of a Venetian nobleman between the 17th and 18th century. On display, are mannequins wearing valuable ancient garments and accessories; that belong to the Study Centre connected to the Museum.
THE MORCENIGO FAMILY
For centuries, the Palazzo Mocenigo at San Stae (the name is a Venetian dialect version of Sant’ Eustachio); was home to the Mocenigo family, one of the most important amongst the Venetian nobility.
According to some, the family originally came from Lombardy, according to others from Aquileia. Whatever the truth, the Mocenigo would provide Venice with a total of 7 doges: Tommaso (1414-23), Pietro (1474-76), Giovanni (1478-85), Alvise I (1570-77; doge at the time of the victorious Battle of Lepanto), Alvise II (1700-1709), Alvise III (1722-32) and Alvise IV (1763-78). The family also supplied the State with numerous procuratori (administrators), ambassadors, sea and land captains, clergymen and men of letters.
The main branch of the family used to live in the palace at San Samuele, whilst the branch descended from Nicolò Mocenigo, brother of Doge Alvise I; settled in the San Stae palace at the beginning of the 17th century.
MUSEUM ITINERARY
Completely renewed and expanded at the end of 2013, it doubled the exhibition area; compared to when it opened in 1985. The itinerary winds its way through twenty rooms on the first piano nobile.
[email protected] layout was designed by Pier Luigi Pizzi, an internationally renowned set designer, integrating palazzo furnishings and paintings, with a large number of works from different sectors and deposits of the Venice Civic Museums. A significant restoration process, allowed never before seen items to be displayed.
The rooms skilfully evoke the different aspects of the life and activities of a Venetian noble class, between the 17th and 18th century and on display are mannequins wearing valuable ancient garments and accessories, that belong to the Study Centre connected to the Museum. Made of patterned fabrics embellished with embroidery and lace, they are testimony to the astounding expertise of scores of craftsmen and the refined, luxurious elegance for which the Venetians were famous.
This was the inspiration for the creation of a new section, dedicated to a particular aspect of the history of Venetian tradition: perfume. Until now, it had not been studied in depth, highlighting the key role the city played in the origins of this aesthetical, cosmetic and entrepreneurial custom. On the piano nobile (first floor), there are six rooms dedicated to perfume; all perfectly integrated into the displays of the rest of the museum.
*** A Pdf file of detailed information for you visit, regarding the contents of every room in the itinerary; can be downloaded and printed out: HERE
Location – Opening Times – Tickets and Concessions – MUVE money-saving scheme (as of Sept 2025)
Location
Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo Study – Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes and Perfume – Santa Croce 1992, 30135
Venezia phone +39 041 721798 [email protected]
Booking office Call center: 848082000 (from Italy), +39 041 42730892 (only from abroad); Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-13:00. Email: [email protected] https://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/contattaci-2/
Opening Times
From 01 April to 31 October: 10.00 – 18.00 (Last admission at 17.00) From 01 November to 31 March: 10.00 – 17.00 (Last admission at 16.00)
The closing operations of the museum begin 20 minutes before the closing time Closed on Mondays _ SPECIAL EVENING OPENINGS From 01 May to 30 September 2025, every Friday and Saturday Open until 20.00 (last admission at 19.00)
https://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/opening-times/
Tickets and Concessions
*It Is possible to book online only reduced price tickets for children aged from 6 to 14, students aged from 15 to 25 and over 65. Other reduced and free tickets are instead issued, upon presentation of the requested documents, directly at the Ticket Office.
SINGLE TICKET
Ticket Full price: 10,00 euro Reduced Ticket: 7,50 euro * Children aged from 6 to 14; students aged from 15 to 25; visitors over 65; holders of the Rolling Venice Card; holders of ISIC – International Student Identity Card.
Free entrance: * Venetian citizens and residents; children aged from 0 to 5; disabled people with helper; tourist guides enabled in Italy accompanying groups or individual visitors; accompanying teachers of school groups (up to 2 teachers per group); ICOM members; MUVE ordinary partners;
MUVE Friend Card holders; holders of Art Pass Venice International Foundation (valid for two people); holders of Venetian Heritage Foundation membership card (valid for two people); holders of Save Venice Inc. Fellow membership card (valid for two people); members of “Amici dei Musei e Monumenti Veneziani”.
School Offer: 4,00 euro per person (valid for entrance from September 1st to March 15th): for students of all schools levels accompanied by their teachers; a list of the students’ names must be provided by the school, valid also for up to two people accompanying the group.
Family Offer: reduced ticket for all family paying members, for families of two adults and at least one child (up to 14).
https://mocenigo.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/tickets/
SPECIAL OPENING OF PALAZZO MOCENIGO It’s possibile to visit the museum of Palazzo Mocenigo after the closing time, sending a request at least 5 working days before the desired data, to verify the availability for an extraordinary opening of the museum.
MUSEUM PASS
The Museum Pass is the cumulative ticket for the MUSE (Civic Museum of Venice) sceme, currently open and for those connected (Clock Tower not included). This ticket is valid for 6 months and grants one single admission to each museum.
The Museum Pass grants entrance to: The St Mark’s Square museums : – Doge’s Palace – combined itinerary of Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana Other Civic Museums of Venice: Ca’ Rezzonico – Museum of 18th Century Venice; Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo; Carlo Goldoni’s House; Ca’ Pesaro, International Gallery of Modern Art + Orient*l Art Museum**; Glass Museum – Murano; Lace Museum – Burano; Natural History Museum; Fortuny Museum MUVE exhibitions at Centro Culturale Candiani, Mestre
Full price ‘Museum Pass’: 40,00 euro Reduced ‘Museum Pass’: 22,00 euro Family ‘Museum Pass’ Offer: reduced ticket for all family paying members, for families of two adults and at least one child (up to 14)
See my post for all the information regarding the MUVE money-saving passes and cards: Venice Museum Guide
TOP 25 RECOMMENDED MUSEUMS.
Select your museum and click on the link below:
1 – Palazzo Ducale (The Doge’s Palace)
2 – Peggy Guggenheim Collection
6 – Scuola Grande di San Rocco
7 – San Servolo Insa*e Asylum Museum
8 – Palazzo Grassi (Francois Pinault Collection)
11 – Fondazione Querini Stampalia
16 – Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia
17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo (not linked)
24 – Museo Provinciale di Torcello
25 – Museo Archeologico Nazionale
LINKS. (internal – external)
Official Website of Museo Palazzo Mocenigo
VIDEO 4 mins:Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo a San Stae Venezia
To widen your experience and enjoyment before visiting, please see my comprehensive and illustrated posts below:
San Croce – District and Attractions
Private Art Galleries of San Marco
If you want to discover a different slice of Venetian life, try this incredible story: Casanova-Life and Times
If you’re interested in learning about in the Venetian Doges or the Mocenigo family, try these two posts below:
17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo 17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo 17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo 17 – Museo Palazzo Mocenigo