Galleries of the Dorsoduro.
Galleries of the Dorsoduro. Discover Venice’s “Gallery Mile” on a walking route, between the Academy Bridge and the Salute Basilica.
A treasure trove for art lovers, the north-eastern side of the Dorsoduro district, offers several renowned public galleries – The Galleria Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Galleria di Palazzo Cini, and finally the Punta della Dogana Art Museum.
However, there are also number of smaller private establishments, that can offer a more intimate or curated feel. Whilst acknowledging the “must-see” status of the Academy and Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a relaxing stroll down the narrow network of lanes from the Academy Bridge to the Salute Basilica; is dotted with smaller hidden gems; that demonstrates Dorsoduro’s vibrant blend of modern energy and classical charm.
Wandering the area, Venice has a way of rewarding the curious – you might also stumble upon smaller studios and pop-up exhibitions, tucked into quiet campos and canalside.
For a truly immersive and unrushed art experience in Dorsoduro, while avoiding the crowds and queues – timing your visit can make all the difference.
Getting to the Academy Bridge and Gallery tour starting point.
The Walking Tour
Recommendations for timing your tour
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This post is a joint collaboration with our new guest contributor, Charlotte Seal.
Getting to the Academy Bridge and Gallery tour starting point.
Galleria Accademia – Campo della Carità, Dorsoduro 1050, 30123 Venice, Italy
It is a 20-minute walk from either Piazzale Roma or Venezia-Santa Lucia railway station or around 25 minutes from the Piazza San Marco.
From Piazzale Roma or the Santa Lucia Railway Station. Take Line 1 or 2 vaporetto, Lido bound, and get off at the Accademia stop.
From Piazza San Marco Take the Line 1 or 2 vaporetto, Piazzale Roma bound, and get off at the Accademia stop.
Galleries of the Dorsoduro – The Walking Route
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The tour route starts on top of the Academy Bridge, where you can enjoy one of Venice’s finest classic views down to the southern entrance of the Grand Canal and the Basin of St Mark; captured by numerous artists over the centuries. For keen photographers, sunrise and sunset can the most magical time of day.
Immediately, looking down onto the Dorsoduro side, in the Campo di Carita, stands the complex of the Gallerie dell’Accademia. (photo below left) Today, it is the city’s premier museum for pre-19th-century Venetian art, housed in a former church, monastery, and scuola; showcasing masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Bellini, and Giorgione. Its most famous piece, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” – is rarely displayed due to its fragility.
Its origins trace back to 1750, when the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia was founded to train artists and promote the study of fine arts.
However, the gallery as we know it today, took shape during a turbulent period: after the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Napoleon’s regime suppressed many religious institutions, leading to the confiscation of artworks from churches and monasteries. Rather than see these treasures scattered or lost, many were gathered into the Accademia’s collection.
In 1807, Napoleon officially restructured the academy and moved it into the former Scuola della Carità complex, a site rich in its own history, with architecture dating back to the 14th century and renovations by Andrea Palladio in the 16th.
Grand Canal – view from Santa Maria della Carità towards the Bacino di San Marco by Canaletto (c. 1730-1733). Note: original church decoration and showing bell tower with adjacent cottages later destroyed.
The gallery opened to the public in 1817, at a time when much of its heritage was under threat. Its significance lies in how it preserved the essence of Venetian painting – from Gothic and Byzantine roots to the Renaissance and Baroque masters. Over time, the gallery narrowed its focus to Venetian art, becoming a sanctuary for works by Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and others. It’s also notable for pioneering art restoration practices as early as the late 18th century.
It’s not just a museum – it’s a testament to the city’s artistic resilience, reinvention, and legacy.
Learn all about this famous gallery and its associated Scuola, in our two comprehensive posts:
5 – Galleria dell’Accademia Scuola Grande della Carita
After crossing the Accademia bridge from the district of San Marco, immediately to the left of Ex Church of Santa Maria di Carità, is the first gallery Totem – Il Canale (Accademia, 878/b). The gallery is a small collection combining the expertise and passion of Claudio Gatta and Hentus Du Toit to form a mixture of North and West African art, particularly statues, and modern Venetian paintings.
Galleria Totem Il Canale of Venezia Unica – Art gallery – Arte.it
Follow the route around the left hand side of the Accademia, where you need to turn left into the Calle Nuova Sant’Agnese. From there, it is a more direct walk onwards to the Salute Basilica; behind the palazzos and gardens lining the Grand Canal.
You will notice that, like almost every street of Venice, there are shops selling glassware, but unlike most of the historic city; this street houses many of Murano’s finest glassmakers. The first you will encounter is Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team glassware store, (Fondamenta Serenella 18/A), which sells designs from one of Murano’s leading and longstanding creator. The artisanal works carried out represent the pride of a family that has been committed for generations to creating glass objects that add elegance and style to various environments. You can contact the shops to discuss your requirements. Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team
You can read up everything you need to know about the Island of Murano, and it’s famous Glass Museum in our two posts:
The Island of Murano 12 – Museo del Vetro – Images of Venice
Carrying on the route, you come to the first bridge over the Rio de San Vio with its small campo of the same name, that overlooks the Grand Canal. The Galleria di Palazzo Cini, is on your left just before the bridge, at Dorsoduro 864.
This refined museum house was established in 1984 and showcases a remarkable collection of Renaissance art, originally assembled by the industrialist and philanthropist Vittorio Cini. The gallery spans two floors, one recreating the ambiance of Cini’s private residence, and the other hosting rotating exhibitions and cultural events. Online booking available. Palazzo Cini | La Fondazione Giorgio Cini – la Galleria di Palazzo Cini
You can also read all about the Gallery Palazzo Cini and the Cini Foundation headquarters, the latter located on the close-by island of San Giorgio Maggiore in our two posts:
San Giorgio Maggiore – Images of Venice 23 – Palazzo Cini
Across the bridge, in the Campo San Vio, is the Marina e Susanna Sent store (Fondamenta Serenella, 20), which houses the art of the two sisters belonging to an old and renowned family of glassware creators, and whose striking contemporary sculptures and jewelry decades ago earned them artistic success which continues to this day. Each piece from the collections is a dialogue between the elegance of design and the vitality of color, born from creative freedom and a deep sense of simplicity. Their art goes further, transforming glass into expressions of modernity and innovation. Their other outlet is in Murano. Marina e Susanna Sent store
You will notice that, like almost every street of Venice, there are shops selling glassware, but unlike most of the historic city, this street houses many of Murano’s finest glassmakers. Keep an eye out for Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team. glassware store (Fondamenta Serenella 18/A), which sells designs from one of Murano’s leading and longstanding creator. The artisanal works carried out represent the pride of a family that has been committed for generations to creating glass objects that add elegance and style to various environments. Contact the shop to discuss your requirements. Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team
You can read up everything you need to know about the Island of Murano, and it’s famous Glass Museum in our two posts: The Island of Murano
12 – Museo del Vetro – Images of Venice
You will notice that many of the galleries along this way are home to contemporary artists and with rolling exhibitions. Bel-Air Fine Art (Dorsoduro 728), has a few rooms with entertaining contemporary art – a vibrant mix of kinetic art, sculpture, photography, and painting from international contemporary artists. However, it is not a particularly Venetian institution, having similar galleries in cities such as St Tropez, Miami and London. Bel-Air Fine Art
You will also find a range of antique art collections. Continuing on and crossing the Ponte del Formager, Roberto Ferruzzi Art Gallery (Dorsoduro 523), is particularly interesting (Photo left). It houses the artwork of Roberto Ferruzzi (1927-2010), a painter and art collector, born into a family of Venetian artists. Both his father and grandfather were called Roberto Ferruzzi and were renowned painters in their own right, his grandfather having one the second Venice Biennale in 1897 with his famous painting Madonnina. The shop is a wonderful maze of paintings in various styles and from various periods of Venetian artistic history and also antiquitous objects. Roberto Ferruzzi Art Gallery
Next, you’ll find the entrance to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, (Dorsoduro 701) nestled in the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, overlooking the Grand Canal. Formerly the residence of American heiress and art collector Peggy Guggenheim, the museum now hosts a superb assortment of modern art masterpieces. Its hallmarks include powerful works from movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, featuring artists like Picasso, Dalí, and Pollock. Beyond its rich interior, the collection extends into a wonderful sculpture garden; together with Peggy’s final resting place and a list of her beloved dogs are marked by a plaque. It provides a contemplative space, that celebrates both art and the serene Venetian atmosphere. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Read up all about her life and times in Venice, her last exhibition, and a celebratory collection of her quotes and images, in our three posts: Peggy Guggenheim in Venice Peggy Guggenheim – The Last Dogaressa Peggy Guggenheim – Images and Quotes
After passing through the small but beautiful Campiello Barbaro, pausing to browse in the Claudia Canestrelli Antique Store; continue the route down Calle Barbaro to find the Galleria d’Arte L’Occhio (Dorsoduro, 181/185), which has showcased the art of young, emerging artists since opening in 1991. There are two gallery spaces, two doors away from one another. Galleria d’Art L’Occhio
Adjacent to the entrance of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is Gallery Ravagnan (Dorsoduro 686). Out of all the small contemporary art galleries in Venice, Gallery Ravagnan (photo left) is both prestigious internationally and authentically Venetian. The Gallery has influenced the contemporary art scene in Venice since its opening in St Mark’s Square in 1967 (close to the renowned Caffe Florian). Gallery Ravagnan opened its second location in Dorsoduro in 2019 and is now run by the children of its founder, Luciano Ravagnan. It exhibits art by international, highly respected artists. It currently has a few works by Bruno Catalano, for example, whose sculptures have been commissioned in cities all over the world. Gallery Ravagnan – Dorsoduro
One of Venice’s most famous local and still living artists that the gallery represents is Ludovico de Luigi, known for his surreal and visionary artworks that explore the history, culture and identity of this city. Read all about this fascinating character and his artwork and a chance encounter in our post: Depicting Venice – Ludovico De Luigi
Just next door, you will find the new and exciting photography gallery, Ostello Fotografico, (photo left), an exhibition space founded in 2025 by Venetian photographers Federico Sutera and Paulo della Corte. The photography portrays Venice in a moving and immediate way. Ostello Fotografico
Among the other glassware galleries you will pass, the one closest to Salute Basilica called Designs188 (Dorsoduro 188 and according to website 167) is not to be missed . You needn’t go to Murano to see authentic Venetian glassblowing because Giorgio Nason (whose family have been glass-makers in Murano since 1602) does live in his shop. Nason allows you to see the production before you buy the product, despite the heat of the open flame in the small room. All of their pieces are handmade and of original design. Designs188
The final destination on this route before Salute Basilica is Abbazia di San Gregorio. Although it is not open all year round, the historical Abbey hosts occasional art exhibits, usually for the Biennale. For the 2025 Architecture Biennale for the Islamic Arts. Abbazia di San Gregorio
Through a small “sottoportego”, you get the first glimpse of the wonderful Salute Basilica. To give its full title the “Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute”, it’s not just a place of worship – it’s a symbol of resilience, beauty, and the enduring spirit of this historic city. Captured by many artists over the centuries, the basilica dominates the right side of another famous “classic view” across the basin; made from the Riva degli Schiavoni.
One of Venice’s most iconic landmarks, it was built between 1631 and 1687, being commissioned as a votive offering after a devastating plague swept through the city. Designed by Baldassare Longhena in the Baroque style, the church stands majestically at the entrance to the Grand Canal, its grand dome visible from across the lagoon. The basilica’s octagonal interior is adorned with artworks by Titian and Tintoretto. Every year on 21 November, Venetians celebrate the “Festa della Madonna della Salute”, crossing a temporary bridge to the church, in remembrance of the city’s deliverance from the plague.
Entrance is free, but the opening times vary:
- April to October: 9:00–12:00 and 15:00–17:30
- November to March: 9:00–12:30 and 15:00–17:30
You can read all about this landmark building in our post: “Santa Maria della Salute”.
View over the Salute Basilica and what is now the Punta della Dogana Art-Museum, taken from the Campanile on San Giorgio Maggiore.
If you’re still up for it – there’s one more gallery you could discover! It’s a place where Venice’s mercantile past meets its artistic present, and where the architecture itself becomes part of the exhibition.
At the tip where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal, the Punta della Dogana is a striking contemporary art museum housed in Venice’s former customs house, the Dogana da Mar. Originally built in the 17th century, the triangular structure was restored and transformed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando in 2009. It blends minimalist concrete forms with the building’s historic brick and timber architecture. Now part of the Pinault Collection, alongside Palazzo Grassi, the gallery hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art that explore bold, often provocative themes. Its location just beside the Salute Basilica, offers not only a cultural experience, but also one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in Venice.
You can read all about this landmark building as part our large series “Venice Museum Guide“ – featuring individual posts on the top 25 galleries in Venice to visit: 14 – Punta della Dogana 8 – Palazzo Grassi (Francois Pinault Collection)
From the Salute, you can catch the Line 1 and 2 vaporettos, on a one-stop-hop to San Marco Vallaresso; or back up the Grand Canal to the Academy bridge and beyond. They run frequently, but with some variation depending on time of day and season.
Don’t forget that if you’re planning multiple trips, a day-pass might be worth considering – it can save you quite a bit if you’re hopping on and off.
Recommendations for timing your tour
Timing your visit can really shape your experience in Dorsoduro’s galleries – here’s a few tips.
It is important to note that many of the private galleries mentioned are closed on Tuesday, as well as Palazzo Cini and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. A few of the private galleries are also closed on Monday. Some of the galleries do not allow photography, so it is better to ask for permission before taking any photos.
Best time of day? Early visits mean fewer crowds and a more contemplative atmosphere. Aim for early morning, right when the galleries open. Best to check the websites, before your visit. This is especially true for the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which can get busy later in the day so, consider booking tickets online and avoid the queues.
Best day of the week? Weekdays tend to be quieter, since weekends draw both tourists or locals, so we recommend going Wednesday through Friday.
Best time of year? The sweet spots are late April to early June and September to mid-October – these shoulder seasons offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds compared to the summer high season and the light in Venice during spring and autumn is magical. However, during the colder and damper periods of Winter, crowds are less and galleries are great place to escape bad weather.
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Here are two more of our posts, covering the two great epoques of Venetian art:
The Venetian School of Art Venetian Artists-18th Century (Introduction)
Starts from the Academy bridge – 24 minutes and covers some of the above route You Tube Video: Venice Italy Walking Tour | Dorsoduro (Free Tours by Foot)
Sunset over the Salute from the Riva degli Schiavoni.
Galleries of the Dorsoduro Galleries of the Dorsoduro Galleries of the Dorsoduro
Galleries of the Dorsoduro Galleries of the Dorsoduro Galleries of the Dorsoduro