Central Pavilion, Art museum in the Giardini della Biennale, Venice, Italy
The Pavillon Central is an art museum located in the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, Italy. The building consists of several connected rooms and was recently fully renovated, with its interior now open and flexible to accommodate different exhibition formats.
The building was constructed at the end of the 19th century under the name Palazzo Pro Arte, formed by joining older structures on the site including the Cavallerizza and the Palazzo dei Concerti. It was created to host the first international art exhibition held in Venice in 1895, which marked the start of the Venice Biennale.
The Sala Chini, a room at the heart of the building, works as the main entry point into the exhibition spaces and connects visitors to the different areas around it. The room gives the visit a clear starting point before opening onto more flexible gallery spaces.
The Pavillon Central is open during the Venice Biennale, which takes place every two years. Arriving early in the day gives you a better chance to move through the rooms without heavy crowds building up later.
The windows inside the building were originally designed by architect Carlo Scarpa and were carefully restored and reinstalled during the recent renovation. New outdoor wooden structures inspired by Venice's rooftop terraces, known as altane, were also added to connect the building to the surrounding garden.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
