Peggy Guggenheim Museum

One of the most significant female personalities in the history of Venice, Peggy Guggenheim was an esteemed socialite who brought American modern art to the European art scene.

Not only did she bolster the careers of modern art’s biggest names such as Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, and Salvador Dalí but also housed an impressive art collection at an 18th-century palace within the heart of Venice.

Today, Peggy Guggenheim’s collection is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best galleries devoted to modern art and the second most frequently visited museum in Venice. Nestled at the edge of Venice’s Grand Canal, this world-class collection exhibits major artworks embracing Futurism, Surrealism, and Cubism, in addition to metaphysical paintings, sculptures, and American Abstract Art by more than 200 artists of the 20th century.

As you immerse yourself in the exquisite art, you’ll find a series of photographs of the rooms as they looked when Guggenheim lived here, in spectacularly eccentric style. What’s more; the museum boasts a sculpture garden (her final resting place) that features brilliant works by greats like Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, and Anish Kapoor.

Managed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the museum is open all year-round to the public and prides on special exhibitions and avant-garde artworks that are regularly incorporated into the collection. In 2012, for instance, over 80 works of Italian, European and American art from after 1945 were added as part of the Schulhof Collection.

In an endeavor to provide an all-encompassing experience to visitors, the museum also features a dedicated building with a sunny cafe, a bookshop, restrooms, and a special exhibition space. That’s not all; you can also find a large museum shop nearby, selling art books in different languages and souvenirs inspired by several artworks.