QUERINI STAMPALIA
The Querini Stampalia Foundation is one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious cultural institutions. Established in 1869, it has embodied the vision of its founder, Count Giovanni Querini Stampalia, for more than 150 years. A bold and forward-thinking pioneer, he conceived it as a place for research and education, dialogue and exchange, personal growth, and the dissemination of knowledge. Located in the heart of Venice, the Foundation is a vibrant crossroads where past and present converge: from its remarkable art collections and extensive library to spaces redesigned by some of the great masters of contemporary architecture, including Carlo Scarpa, Valeriano Pastor, Mario Botta, and Michele De Lucchi.
Its history began with a radical and profoundly innovative decision. Giovanni Querini, the last heir of a noble Venetian family, chose to place his home, library, and entire estate at the service of the community, creating an institution that was open, accessible, and inclusive.
Today, the Querini Stampalia Foundation renews that original mission by engaging actively with the present and fostering international dialogue. It has established itself as a center for cultural experimentation, research, and exchange, interpreting its heritage not as a static legacy, but as a dynamic platform for contemporary thought.
SCUOLA GRANDE SAN GIOVANNI EVANGELISTA
The Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista is a remarkable monumental complex showcasing outstanding examples of Venetian Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque art and architecture. Its spaces bear the signature of renowned masters such as Mauro Codussi, Pietro Lombardo, Giorgio Massari, Giovanni Maria Morlaiter, Palma il Giovane, Tintoretto, and Pietro Longhi.
For more than seven centuries, the Scuola has been the home of the historic lay confraternity from which it takes its name. Today, it is also a museum open to the public, hosting a wide range of events, including conferences, lectures, concerts, exhibitions, weddings, and gala evenings.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
The Merchant of Venice is a luxury artistic perfumery brand founded in Venice by the Vidal family, who have been active in the international fragrance industry for more than a century.
The brand revives the ancient art of perfumery that originated in Venice and flourished through the city’s trade connections with the Far East.
Its inspiration comes from the historic Mude, the maritime trade routes that connected a vast territory stretching from the East and Africa across Europe and as far as the Northern Seas.
Departing from Venice, these routes reached ports that served as hubs for additional commercial networks, creating a sophisticated exchange of raw materials and finished goods.
Through these trade connections, the Serenissima gained access to knowledge and precious ingredients that would otherwise have been unavailable locally. Venetian master craftsmen—known as the Muschieri (perfumers) and Saoneri (soap makers)—developed innovative production techniques that made Venetian perfumes and cosmetics highly sought after in the royal courts of Europe.
GALERIES BARTOUX
Located at the foot of the Ponte dell’Accademia and next to the prestigious Galleria dell’Accademia museum, in the heart of the cultural district of Dorsoduro, Galeries Bartoux Venice opened its doors on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Housed in the former Accademia cinema, this new venue provides an exceptional setting where contemporary art resonates with the timeless soul of the Serenissima. Spanning 1,200 m², visitors and collectors can discover:
An art gallery showcasing our emblematic artists alongside new artistic collaborations
A curated selection of paintings and sculptures by some of the greatest talents of our time
An immersive and interactive space, 12 meters high beneath an authentic wooden structure, where two original shows will be presented each year, created in collaboration with the French studio Superbien
The Home of The Human Safety Net
The Procuratie in St. Mark’s Square—once the headquarter of the Procurators, high-ranking officials of the Venetian Republic—are now open to the public for the first time in 500 years following a major restoration by David Chipperfield, awarded the 2023 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The Home of The Human Safety Net is free and open to all. Here visitors can embark on an extraordinary journey to discover their own potential through the interactive exhibition A World of Potential, which allows them to discover and develop their strengths and connect with the Foundation’s programs.
A spectacular enfilade of 15 arches connects the exhibition space to the other areas of the Home: the Hub is a co-working space for the creation and development of new ideas and projects, the Hall is a stimulating space for meetings and dialogue.
Scuola Grande San Marco
The Scuola Grande di San Marco, founded as the Scuola dei Battuti in 1260 with a small meeting hall near the now-vanished Church of Santa Croce, had become so influential and prosperous by 1437 that it adopted the name of the city’s patron saint and erected, adjacent to the Dominican convent of Saints John and Paul, the most imposing of the Venetian confraternity buildings.
In 1495, Pietro and Biagio of Faenza were commissioned to create the astonishing carved and gilded ceiling for the Chapter Hall (Sala Capitolare) and the Albergo Hall (Sala dell’Albergo). Even today, this masterpiece can be admired as one of Venice’s great wonders.
The Medical Library, housed in the Chapter Hall and the Albergo Hall of the Scuola Grande di San Marco, has very ancient origins. It derives from the library attached to the Dominican convent of the Church of Saints John and Paul, whose foundation can be traced back to the 14th century.