Correr Museum, Venice

The City Correr Museum is the largest art museum in Venice and one of the richest in Italy. It is located in the central part of the city, on Piazza San Marco, in the building of Procuratie. The collection of the institution presents many exhibits on the history of the city of Venice, as well as the Republic of Venice.

History of the Correr Museum

The Correr Museum was founded in 1830 by a resident of Venice, collector Theodor Correr, who after his death left his rich collection of paintings to the city, as well as ancient objects of decorative and applied art.

In the first years the exhibition was demonstrated in the Correr's Palace. However, the collection gradually expanded and was replenished with new exhibits: at the end of the 19th century the Morosini family archive was added to it, and during the Second Venice Biennale a collection of modern art was founded. The building of the palace was not sufficient for a full exposition of the collection, and in 1923 the Correr Museum was moved to Piazza San Marco, where it still works today.

The building of the Correr Museum is a building of the early 19th century, located between the two buildings of the Venetian Procuratie. For many years offices and residences of the most influential people of the Republic of Venice have been working in these buildings. Earlier on the site of the museum there was the ancient church of San Geminiano. The palace was built as the residence of Napoleon, but was completed already under Austria-Hungary. The palace project is the work of a group of architects – Giovanni Antonio Antolini, Lorenzo Santi and Giuseppe Soli.

Exhibits of the museum

The collection of the Correr Museum is divided into three thematic expositions:

1. Historical views of Venice, the basis of which is the collection of Theodor Correr. Pictures depicting the daily urban landscape – guides, documents, dresses, coins, seals and weapons – all these exhibits tell about different periods in the history of the city. Also in this collection there is a library from the former monastery of the Theatines.
2. The Picture Gallery is the largest collection of canvases by Venetian masters, including the canvas by Pietro Longhi "The Venetian Masquerade" and the painting "Two Venetians" by the artist Carpaccio.
3. The Museum of Risorgimento houses a collection of documents, historical paintings, engravings, costumes and other artifacts dedicated to the history of the Republic of Venice from the time of its fall to the unification with Italy.

How to get there

Thanks to the convenient location of the museum in the center of Venice, it is easy to get here. To do this, follow the signs located at the ends of the city buildings, which will lead to Piazza San Marco. You should also use the services of the city water bus – vaporetto, which follows route №A, 2 (ferries) to S. Marco station.

Opening hours:

• from 10:00 to 19:00 (April–October);
• from 10:00 to 17:00 (November–March);
• days off – December 25 and January 1.