Art and Culture

Venice developed as no other Italian or European city, thanks in no small way to its close links with the east.

Venice was a major power throughout the Renaissance period, and acquired such a wealth of art that it would be no exaggeration today to define the city as the world capital of art. The basilica of Santa Maria dei Frari and that of Santi Giovanni e Paolo are considered museums as well as churches for the vast number of works they contain, as well as for their characteristic Gothic architecture.

Then there is the church of Santa Maria della Salute, one of the world's main masterpieces of Baroque art, and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore and that of the Redentore, two works of the architect Andrea Palladio.

The Accademia Galleries contain a wonderfully rich collection of Venetian school paintings from the earliest times until the 1700s. The Museum of Archaeology in Piazza San Marco houses Greek and Roman statues, Greek and Etruscan ceramics, Egyptian mummies, coins and other small artefacts. The Correr Museum allows visitors to immerse themselves in Venetian art produced between the Renaissance and the 1800s, and also houses a superb collection of maps, coins, dogal costumes, arms and uniforms. The Museo Dell'Opera, located inside the Doge's palace contains a huge collection of paintings, sculptures, arms and historical objects.

Venice also holds a number of typical festivals that have contributed to spreading its fame around the world. The two best known of these on an international level are the Carnival and the Festa del Redentore.

Every little corner of Venice is a work of art in itself, so even the more expert or demanding tourist is sure to find plenty of artistic interest.

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