The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice

Located on the Grand Canal, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most beautiful modern art museums in Italy—a must-visit for any traveler passing through Venice!

Follow the guide!

⚠️ The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is very popular, especially during peak season. To avoid wasting time in line, consider booking your tickets in advance: Skip-the-Line Tickets for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

First, a Bit of History

The Palazzo Venier dei Leoni

Located on the Grand Canal in Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is housed in the magnificent Palazzo Venier dei Leoni.

In the mid-17th century, the Venier family was one of the most powerful and wealthy families in Venice. To solidify their power, they decided to build a sumptuous palace on the Grand Canal, entrusting the construction to architect Lorenzo Boschetti.

The building was to be one of the most luxurious in Venice. The Correr family, whose palace across the canal was considered one of the most beautiful in Venice, did not view this construction favorably.

However, construction was halted, and the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni remained unfinished. Was it due to financial issues or pressure from the competition? The mystery remains.

The Birth of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

If the name “Guggenheim” sounds familiar, it’s because this legendary family of patrons has left an indelible mark on the art world in the 20th century.

Born in 1898 in New York, Peggy Guggenheim was the daughter of a wealthy banker. Her father tragically perished in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Her uncle, an art enthusiast, established the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 1937, which includes the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art in Bilbao.

Peggy inherited her family’s love for art. She mingled with intellectual circles in America and Europe and befriended many artists, collecting their works. In 1942, she married painter and sculptor Max Ernst, but the marriage was short-lived, and they separated in 1946.

Living a bohemian lifestyle, Peggy continued to expand her collections, supporting then-unknown artists who soon became significant figures, such as Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.

In the late 1940s, Peggy Guggenheim settled permanently in Venice, in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. She spent the last 30 years of her life there. Upon her death in 1979, she donated her collections and her home (where her ashes are also kept) to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection opened to the public in 1980. Today, it is considered one of the finest modern art museums in Italy, and Captain Ulysses couldn’t agree more!

Visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Housed in the beautiful Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a true favorite of Captain Ulysses. Here, you will discover works by many of the most famous artists of the 20th century.

Among them are Pablo Picasso, George Braque, René Magritte, Vassily Kandinsky, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, Giorgio de Chirico, Fernand Léger, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko.

The visit continues outside in the sculpture garden, where you can admire stunning works by Giacometti, Brancusi, Moore, and Kapoor.

At the back of the palace, don’t miss the magnificent view of the Grand Canal. You’ll also find the iconic sculpture by Marino Marini, Angelo della Città.

Captain Ulysses loved the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and highly recommends making a stop here: you’re guaranteed to be amazed!

Practical Information

Access to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

To visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, head to the Dorsoduro district. The museum is located halfway between the Accademia Bridge and Santa Maria della Salute. The nearest vaporetto stations are Accademia (lines 1 and 2) and Salute (line 1).

👉 Book your bus + vaporetto pass

Opening Hours of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is open every day of the week except Tuesday, from 10 AM to 6 PM (ticket office closes at 5 PM).

It is closed on December 25.

Admission Fees for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Adults: €16
• Visitors over 70: €14
• Students under 26: €9
• Children under 10: free

⚠️ Venice is a very touristy city, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is very popular. To avoid wasting time in line, consider booking a skip-the-line ticket: skip-the-line tickets for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and tours in Venice!