Venice is one of my favourite cities. There’s a certain rustic elegance that weaves through the winding laneways and along the canals. It’s like no other place in the world, riding up out of cool blue lagoons in a flurry of grand architecture and age-old history.
Venice has a huge art scene, too, though for the most part you will have to pay to explore the visual side to this city. However, if you know where to look, there are a number of arty things to do that won’t cost you a penny. For art lovers like myself this is a godsend, partly because museum and gallery entrance fees are often quite steep, and partly because it opens up a relatively undiscovered side of the city.
So, today I’m sharing some of the free art you can see in Venice – you just have to dig a little deeper.
Check Out Privately Owned Galleries
Whilst the big guns like the Guggenheim museum aren’t free to enter, there are a number of great contemporary art galleries dotted around the city that don’t cost a penny. These privately owned galleries promote a whole range of artwork from local artists as well as those from further afield. Check out the Contini Art Gallery, Galleria d’Arte l’Occhio, or Galleria Ravagnan to start yourself off.
It’s also worth asking the staff in these galleries if they know of any other free places where you can discover some of the local art.
Marvel at the Orsoni Colour Library
Situated close to the popular Jewish Ghetto, this is the only glass furnace that’s still in use today in Venice. It mainly produces incredible intricate glass mosaics, as well as gold leaf which you’ll find adorning some of the world’s most impressive buildings (I’m talking the Sacre Coeur in Paris, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and St Paul’s Cathedral in London).
Be sure to call in advance if you want to have a free tour of the workshop where you can wander amongst the magnificent creations and learn about the glass-making process. Afterwards, stop off at the Colour Library, where you can marvel at the huge collection of glass in all different shapes, sizes, and colours.
Wander the Streets of Murano
Murano is an island just off the mainland of Venice and you can get there via a cheap and quick vaporetto ride. This was one of my favourite Venice experiences when I visited a few years ago. There’s plenty of artwork to see, many of which is free to browse and explore.
The island is mainly known for the creation of glassware and, whilst it can be expensive to buy, you can wander through most of the stores and workshops free of charge. It’s also free to see glass-makers at work in the busy factories – an eye-opening and fascinating insight into one of Venice’s primary artisan crafts.
Hunt Down Old Masters
It’s not just the contemporary art that’s free to see in Venice. You can also discover some of Italy’s old masters paintings free of charge. Head to I Carmini, the Church of Santa Maria del Carmelo, which showcases a number of incredible paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Cima da Conegliano. These timeless paintings are the stars of the show, but the interior of the church is just as impressive and well worth a look.
Get Creative at the Biennale
I couldn’t really write a list about the art in Venice without mentioning the Biennale. Taking place every February, this is one of the largest art shows in the world, and showcases work by a mind-blowing range of international artists.
During the event you can watch performances, wander through temporary exhibitions, and try out some art-making processes yourself. If you’re not fortunate enough to be visiting when the Biennale is on, you can often find remnants of the previous year still dotted around. In the weeks leading up to the festival there is a flurry of artistic activity, too.
Wander the Artisan Shops
Venice is a categorically creative city. It’s bursting with a whole range of artisan crafts and locals who specialise in certain art techniques and practices – you just have to wander the backstreets to see this. You’ll find plenty of tiny craft stores tucked away down winding alleyways, selling wooden goods, quirky souvenirs, local artworks, elaborate masks, and fine glass products. Of course, you’ll have to part with some money if you want to make a purchase, but simply browsing these shops doesn’t cost a penny.
So there you have a number of free ways you can explore the art scene in Venice. It’s such a creative city that you’re bound to find a little something around every twist and turn – just be prepared to put down the map and really get stuck in.
Have you been to Venice? What was your favourite arty thing to do there?
