5 buildings to visit (only) during the Biennale in Venice

Two palaces actually make up this complex: Palazzo Barbaro Curtis, which dates back to the 1400s, and its extension, Palazzo Barbaro. The Biennale has been using the ground floor in Palazzo Barbaro since 2015 for side exhibitions. It’s worth visiting just for the breathtaking view of the Canal Grande.

Although the interior has been heavily remodelled, the façade of this beautiful palace, which overlooks the Canal Grande, remains quite faithful to the original Venetian Gothic style. Today the building is home to a hotel, but during the Biennale it also hosts side events.

Walking to this place is already an experience in itself but it gives you an opportunity to visit one of the most authentic places in Venice. For many years, the Ramon Llull Institute has been hosting events with a link to Catalonia in this evocative setting, where boats are moored in winter. During the Biennale, this place is awash with light, poetry and art.

The historic home of the Donà dalle Rose family was erected in the 17th centuryat the behest of Doge Leonardo Donàdalle Rose. It has two façades, both inthe late renaissance style, one facing the Rio dei Gesuiti, and the main one facing the island of Murano and the northern lagoon.

Finding this small church is not an easy undertaking. Its modest entrance is hidden in a sotoportego. Visiting it may be prove even more difficult however. Nonetheless, this small 12th-century building is an important testimony to the history of the Armenian community and the cosmopolitan and welcoming tradition of Venice.