I'm obsessed with every thing about Peggy Guggenheim & the area of Dorsoduro that surrounds the…read moreCollection. Just a delightful home on the Grand Canal, small & intimate with such diversity that the moment we left I was already craving a revisit. Beautiful garden memorial to Peggy & her beloved dogs. "Peggy's ashes are buried her beloved pooches are also with her. This is the only case in the world where the creator of a museum is buried inside" The courtyard is peaceful and allows for a few areas to reflect before or after visiting the collection inside. Of course, the delight is the canal entrance to the terrace showcasing the bronze Marino Marini "Angel of the City" statue of a rider on a horse with outstretched hands and an erect phallus that is said to once upon a time be detachable to prevent the nuns who were passing by from seeing it. Eventually stolen enough times that it was soldered in place. What a place !! What an island !

Mega over-crowded! We bought tickets online because it may "sell out". I don't think they would…read moreever sell out-seems packing hundreds of people into very small rooms and hallways was just fine. Large student groups of uninterested kids and bougie aficionados with no self-awareness abound. Not sure if the art or people watching was more insufferable. We spent about 20 min inside before we bailed. Also, 90% of the art looks like what second graders produce and parents would hang on a fridge. Want to see art? Walk thru any of the art galleries with photography and oil paintings for sale-far better plan. Not sure how this gets nearly 5 stars. During the very busy season this place must be even more insane. How about limit the crowds, especially for those with the foresight to pre-purchase tickets to avoid what we experienced.

I love Burano! In turn, I love my unique piece of art from La Buranella. It's my own little piece…read moreof Italy! As you get off the boat in Burano, La Buranella is one of the first places you come across. We walked in to see a father and son painting scenes of Burano, surrounding Murano glass that is placed just so in order to make up the Burano buildings and landscape. We were instantly intrigued, but continued on our way to the town. After perusing the shops and streets of Burano, we found ourselves back in La Buranella. The paintings that the men were originally working on were now dry. We decided that this would be a perfect souvenir to remember our first European vacation by. I look at it daily!

I'm the sort of traveler who wants to take a piece of the trip home. I want to be transported back…read moreto that magical place I visited. So, my souvenir of choice is usually art. With a glance, I'm back - the sounds, the sights, the smells. When I was in Burano (one of the small islands around Venice - another is Murano) last May, it was pouring rain. But that didn't stop it from being one of the highlights of my trip. This little island is full of winding streets, picturesque footbridges, and brightly colored houses with brightly colored skiffs to go with them. We had less than 2 hours to explore Burano as we had to catch the last vaporetto back for the night. As we were heading back to the vaporetto stop, I was desperately looking for that perfect item to take home with me. Yes, I tried their delicious pastries and I bought a handmade lace shawl for my mom, but I needed something special. On the right side of the street, facing the vaporetto stop, there was a tiny shop - La Buranella! We stepped out of the rain and it was like stepping into a painting. Vibrant colors on the walls and the art instantly lifted my spirits. I almost couldn't decide - because Giuliano (the artist) is so talented and really captures the feeling of Burano in all of his work. But I decided on one that combined the colorful houses, the picturesque footbridges, and the little boats into one perfect picture. If you're on Burano, I highly recommend you stop by La Buranella to see Guiliano's work and to pick up a few reminders of your own trip!

If you ever find yourself In the Veneto, this is a must see…read more The Veneto region is brimming with Palladian villas. They come in all sizes. They're beautiful works of art from the brain of the master himself, Palladio. He inspired Jefferson's Monticello. (Copied but that's neither here no there.) The Villa Pisani at Stra is amazing because of the extensive restoration work that has taken place. It dumbfounded me to think that at some point a family lived here and there were persons responsible for the daily operations of such a large estate. The real gem of this villa though is the fully functional and operational labyrinth. I had a blast trying maneuver and find my way in and out. It was definitely worth the trip!

Very much enjoyed the quiet and magnificence of this palace turned museum; however, two issues:…read moreaudio tour was difficult to follow from room to room with using a decimal point and title system and poor signage, and no place to sit, despite ample space! On our feet for a full three hours unless seated on the stairs between floors apologizing to other navigating between floors. Otherwise wonderful.

Venice is completely packed full of tourists pretty much year round these days, but there are many…read moreplaces where it's possible to get away from the crowds--they are called museums, and this is a great one. It's devoted to 17th-century Venetian painting but also has room-full of fantastic carved furniture, worth seeing all by itself, ceiling paintings throughout, and a separate collection of works donated by Ferruccio Mestrovich, where I wandered through the rooms for a full 45 minutes without seeing another person. This is on the Grand Canal! This is where Robert Browning lived in the 19th century! You can go down to the cafe and sit basically on the water with a glass of wine for as long as you like. Get a museum day pass and a day transportation pass.

The 795 Art Gallery is located on Guidecca Island and between the Hilton Molino Stuckey (where were…read morestaying) and Dinner one night at the Ostaria ad Botti. We stopped in on a whim, and particularly enjoyed the performance art provided by a young actress/model and the connected iPad that we was wearing over her face. Gayle and I found ourselves part of the show as our images appeared on the screen at one point. The Gallery is located in an historic 16th century palazzetto known as Palazzo Foscari. It's a reference point for various artists and collectors, representing modern and contemporary art. We also enjoyed the wall art and came away with a few artistic trinkets and huge smiles on our faces.

Stopped here during our visit and they had some interesting art peices. They ranged from 6 foot…read moregorilla to gold ballons. Would recommend.

The Venice - San Marco contemporary art gallery of the prominent European Bel-Air Fine Art company…read morewas a pleasant and whimsical discovery in Venezia. After awhile, for me at least, all the medieval and religious art in Italy starts to blur together. This makes stumbling upon the hyperrealism, neorealism, neo-pop, neo-surrealism, and modern collection on display (and for sale) at this contemporary art gallery both fun and inspirational. Pieces by French-Israeli sculptor Idan Zareski, American sculptor Carole Feuerman, French sculptor Cévé, French photographer Cécile Plaisance, French sculptor Marie-Paule Deville-Chabrolle, Italian-American photographer Guido Argentini, and Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky all were mesmerizing. Of course, Bel-Air Fine Art is one of the leading contemporary art groups in Europe. Its collection of world-class items on display at this gallery was fun to explore and contemplate without a lot of pressure from overly-attentive sales people or a crowd of tourists.

Such an amazing event. I cannot explain the beauty in each Pavilllion. Don't miss the Simone Leigh…read moresculpures. Beautifully curated.

Honestly, I came here hoping to see a museum on the history of the Arsenal, and the Venetian fleet,…read moreand instead I was treated to a modern art museum. Honestly, I absolutely hate modern art, and it was a travesty that such a place have been transformed into a museum containing experimental art forms that are designed to shock, confuse, and to leave people completely baffled. As a friend once pointed out, half of the modern artist out there are probably laughing their heads off when people actually consider that their works have any value whatsoever.

My sister and I were on a mission to only visit stores listed on the murano vetro artistico list,…read morewhich is basically a list of real murano glass makers (a lot of what you see in Venice for example is produced in China). We happened to wander in the direction of Alessandro Mandruzzato. It is actually a bit hidden because you have to go down a corridor that opens into a small courtyard with various showrooms of glass makers. The store actually has glassware made by a husband and wife team; it consists of housewares eg. Vases, jewellery boxes, lamps, etc created by the husband and jewellery made by the wife. The wife, Jany, was in the store when we visited and she was very friendly and helpful. She explained to us that only 47 families are certified glass makers of the murano tradition and that the red and blue stamps that verify true murano glass indicate the temperature used to produce the product. I ended up purchasing a bracelet and some earrings, which Jane wrapped very nicely -- they definitely use high end packaging. She also informed us that she does custom work, something I would definitely utilise for a special occasion like a wedding. I highly recommend visiting this shop for its unique pieces, which are quite pretty. Also, being able to meet the artist really adds to the the whole experience!

We are so happy that this studio was our first stop on the island. Jany (Alessandro's wife) was so…read morewelcoming and took the time to tell us about the history of the Murano artists and the generations of glass making in her family. She tells everyone about the history and the importance of shopping at studios that have the Vetro Artistico® Murano label on their goods or displayed in the store. She then encouraged us to walk around the island and shop around. We returned after strolling around for a few hours because there just weren't any other studios that could match the quality and the personalized service. She even switched out the silver for gold beads in some earrings upon request. We bought 6 pieces and she gave us certificates of authenticity for each and contact information if we have questions or would like customized pieces in the future. While we were there, a German couple was returning to pick up a custom vase and they were able to see them do a final polish via live feed from the studio in the back. I would definitely recommend this studio to anyone shopping for authentic items. Not just the so called "Made in Murano" which is actually made in a factory somewhere in India or China (ever wonder why those items are so cheap?) but handmade by a certified Murano artist. They take their craft very seriously and it needs to be supported to ensure these skills survive future generations. I wish I could provide pictures but to protect their art, pictures are prohibited, of course.

For locals, €5 gets you a season pass (now until 31 OCT 2014) to enjoy the top of the Basilica…read morePalladiana, including the loggia and the upper terrace. €1 for a one-time visit. The reconstruction of the original site began in 1549 by Andrea Palladio and was completed in 1614. Renovated in 2007, the loggia is a beautiful space to enjoy views of Vicenza through the Palladian windows. The clock tower has been around since at least 1172. On the terrace is a bar where you can enjoy an aperol/campari spritz (€4) or vino while relaxing in the afternoon/evening shade provided by the basilica. I believe there is other light fare as well. An excellent place for photographs and watching piazza activity!

This is by far the best spot to view the beauty of Vicenza. There are two decks to walk around and…read moregorgeous architecture to view from every spot. My husband is now working here and we have two of our four children along for the ride. We decided to purchase a seasonal pass for 5 euro. It's totally worth it. Every time we head down to the centro now we have the option to head up top for a gorgeous view. There's a bar on the roof that serves several different drinks and water naturale or frizzante is available as well. The seating is great. The servers spoke excellent English and we very friendly. Most restaurants here add a service fee into the price if the place is nice. Otherwise you might want to leave a couple euro. Italians don't seem to tip based off the cost of the food. It's more of just a thank you.