Sestiere Castello
Museo di Palazzo Grimani
Grimani Palace Museum
Unusual Renaissance palace with theatrical frescoed halls adorned with intricate grotesques.
San Marco (9-min walk)
museiveneto.cultura.gov.it
+39 041 241 1507
Standard admission is €14.
Additional resources
What makes it special
Roman influences
In the former residence of the controversial Giovanni Grimani, every room tells a story, frequently inspired by classical Roman legends.
Tribuna
This exceptionally uncommon room is known as the 'Chamber of Antiquities' because it once housed over 130 ancient sculptures, many of which still stand today.
Grotesques
Ever spotted a grinning griffin or a leafy-faced man peeking from the ceiling or walls? That’s the grotesque style at play: whimsical, bizarre, and bursting with imagination. It’s a form of art that blends real and imaginary elements into strange, fantastic or hideous designs. Although rarely used in Venice, grotesques are plentiful throughout the palace.
Sala a fogliami
The expansive ceiling of the 'Foliage Room' comes alive with an unusual theme, painted in vivid colors: a dense, exotic forest teeming with life, yet cloaked in a delicate veil of unrest and tension.
Your experience here
- Get a sense of how the ultra-rich adorned their homes with out-of-the-ordinary decorations.
- Step into the Tribuna and feel like you’ve walked onto the set of a surreal film.
- Venice is filled with Baroque beauty, yet it’s here you’ll find the most vivid and mysterious grotesques.
- Look up and soak in the intricate, vibrant ceilings throughout the palace.
Save with a combined ticket
For just €15, a combined ticket grants you access to both the palace and Ca' d'Oro.
Nicknamed the 'Golden House', this exquisite Gothic palace offers intimate, front-row views of the Canal Grande from its upper loggia and is home to a beautifully curated art collection.
It’s like getting a second €8 top tourist attraction for just €1 more.
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of either site.
Still undecided?
360° Tribuna
Explore this impressive room from the comfort of your current location and grasp its grandeur.
The Grotesque
Step into a world where art bends the rules and where whimsical creatures, surreal hybrids, and ornamental chaos come together in a style that’s anything but ordinary.
Though rare in Venice, the grotesque flourishes in hidden corners of certain palaces and frescoed ceilings.
Discover how this imaginative Renaissance style blends humor, myth, and mystery into decorative masterpieces that reward a closer look.
What to see nearby
These top spots are just a short walk from Palazzo Grimani:
super close
Campo Santa Maria Formosa
super close
Libreria Acqua Alta
tops 5 mins
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
tops 5 mins
San Zaccaria
5-10 min away
Scuola di San Marco
5-10 min away
Bridge of Sighs
5-10 min away
Riva degli SchiavoniMore like this
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