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Ca' Rezzonico is one of the few palazzi in Venice open to the public and is also one of the most splendid. Situated on the Grand Canal this remarkable Baroque Palace once belonged to Baldassare Longhena who was the architect of Santa Maria della Salute.

In 1712 it was purchased from the Rezzonico family from Genoa who finished the building of the house and decorated it accordingly. They were renowned for throwing huge parties at Ca’Rezzonico. The house is decorated with paintings, frescoes and Baroque furniture and the most remarkable room is the Ballroom. Since 1810, Ca' Rezzonico underwent a change in ownership multiple times, and it was finally bought by the state.

The museum is a venue managed by MUVE, an organization that develops and manages the artistic and cultural heritage of Venice.

There is a suite of 4 rooms on each side, and the façade is 3 rooms wide. The state rooms lead to the ballroom, which is the largest room in Ca' Rezzonico. It is of double height and was created by Massari. The walls are decorated with realistic imagery so that objects appear three dimensional. The architectural nature of the images creates an optical illusion, making the room appear more massive than it is. The state rooms and the ballroom can be reached from a staircase, decorated by the Venetian sculptor Giusto Le Court. There is a small courtyard at the center of the palace, with a small fountain and sculptures. A colonnaded balcony overlooks the court.

Today, the palace is an art museum, owned by the City Council of Venice. The museum features a collection of Venetian glass, collections of antique furniture, and paintings by artists such as Giandomenico Tiepolo, Francesco Guardi, and Pietro Longhi. The gallery also organizes exhibitions with paintings of contemporary artists such as Nicholas May, Donna Cameron, and Pietro Giuseppe Tito.

There are 11 rooms on the first floor, featuring frescoed ceilings, paintings, and collections of 18th century furniture. The spacious central hall on the second floor displays early works by Canaletto. Other rooms feature frescos by Tieopolo and the work of Pietro Longhi. The third floor displays an art collection bequeathed by Egidio Martini and exhibits dedicated to Farmacia Ai do San Marchi (old pharmacy). Visitors can see an ample selection of accessories, garments, and clothing that are part of the museum’s permanent collection. The pieces aim to illustrate the ways in which changes in fashion followed change in taste. Analogies and parallels can be drawn between decorative motifs, design, and colors and those present in the furniture of the period.

At the same time, tourists who are eager to see how life was in the old days will not get their money’s worth. Here, it is more about the layout and presentation of the palace, the façade, and the wall paintings and ceilings. Palazzo Mocenigo is a good example of the former decoration and furniture of ceremonial palaces, and some of its original décor and furniture is well preserved and stands in its original place.

* Ca is short for Casa - House
Where is Ca’ Rezzonico: Fondamenta Rezzonico, Dorsoduro district

How to get to Ca’ Rezzonico: By vaporetto- Ca’Rezzonico stop

Opening Hours: 10AM to 5PM; Tuesday is closed.




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