Many Venetian museums, churches, guildhalls and even some hotels hold priceless works of Gothic and Renaissance art. Famous though Venice is for these opulent paintings and sculptures from centuries past, the city also has numerous venues displaying cutting-edge works of today. In addition to the suggestions below, contemporary art lovers will want to seek out Palazzo Grassi, a 16th-century palace on the Grand Canal that hosts cultural events and exhibits, and Ca’ Pesaro, home to the International Gallery of Modern Art. 

The Venice Art Biennale

Held every two years from April to November, the Biennale is an exhibition and competition in which artists and institutions from all over the world come to present their works. While each participating country has a pavilion in the Giardini, the Biennale takes place all over the city, as countless spaces become temporary galleries with free exhibitions. You could spend weeks trying to visit every single one. We ended up seeing about a dozen shows just by saying, “That looks interesting, should we pop in for a moment?” Favorites included Passengers in Transit, presented by the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, in a creaky two-story space on the Fondamenta Priuli; massive paintings by Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi at Scuola Grande della Misericordia; and an evocative show of intimate photographs by Peter Hujar in a quiet courtyard space near San Zaccaria.

Venice Biennale 
Multiple locations. Tel. (39) 041-521-8711