Museo di Palazzo Grimani

Grimani Palace Museum

Unusual Renaissance palace with theatrical frescoed halls adorned with intricate grotesques.


Standard admission is €14.


What makes it special

Roman influences

In the former residence of the controversial Giovanni Grimani, every room tells a story, frequently inspired by classical Roman legends.

Tribuna

This exceptionally uncommon room is known as the 'Chamber of Antiquities' because it once housed over 130 ancient sculptures, many of which still stand today.

Grotesques

Ever spotted a grinning griffin or a leafy-faced man peeking from the ceiling or walls? That's the grotesque style at play: whimsical, bizarre, and bursting with imagination. It's a form of art that blends real and imaginary elements into strange, fantastic or hideous designs. Although rarely used in Venice, grotesques are plentiful throughout the palace.

Sala a fogliami

The expansive ceiling of the 'Foliage Room' comes alive with an unusual theme, painted in vivid colors: a dense, exotic forest teeming with life, yet cloaked in a delicate veil of unrest and tension.

Palazzo Grimani : At that time, certain depicted species were regarded as exotic since they had only recently arrived from the New World

Discover more about Palazzo Grimani through 20 photos with explanations.

Open gallery

Your experience here

  • Get a sense of how the ultra-rich adorned their homes with out-of-the-ordinary decorations.
  • Step into the Tribuna and feel like you've walked onto the set of a surreal film.
  • Venice is filled with Baroque beauty, yet it's here you'll find the most vivid and mysterious grotesques.
  • Look up and soak in the intricate, vibrant ceilings throughout the palace.

Save with a combined ticket

For just €15, a combined ticket grants you access to both the palace and Ca' d'Oro.

Nicknamed the 'Golden House', this exquisite Gothic palace offers intimate, front-row views of the Canal Grande from its upper loggia and is home to a beautifully curated art collection.

It's like getting a second €8 top tourist attraction for just €1 more.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of either site.

Still undecided?

Virtual visit

Explore the entire palace in a virtual tour on Italyart.

Start virtual visit

360° Tribuna

Explore this impressive room from the comfort of your current location and grasp its grandeur.

Start 360° tour

The Grotesque

Step into a world where art bends the rules and where whimsical creatures, surreal hybrids, and ornamental chaos come together in a style that's anything but ordinary.

Though rare in Venice, the grotesque flourishes in hidden corners of certain palaces and frescoed ceilings.

Discover how this imaginative Renaissance style blends humor, myth, and mystery into decorative masterpieces that reward a closer look.

More on Wikipedia

What to see nearby

These top spots are just a short walk from Palazzo Grimani:


More like this

More atypical places in Venice:

More places you can visit now on a virtual tour:

View on mobile