Punta della Dogana, Art museum at Canal Grande junction, Venice, Italy
Punta della Dogana is a triangular building at the meeting point of the Grand Canal and Giudecca Canal that shows contemporary art exhibitions in converted historic rooms. The galleries spread across several floors and connect old brick walls with smooth modern surfaces and large openings toward the water.
Construction of the customs house began in 1677 and the building was completed between 1678 and 1682 to designs by Giuseppe Benoni. It was restored in 1838 by Alvise Pigazzi, then stood empty for decades while plans for apartments or a hotel failed. Tadao Ando restored it from January 2008 to March 2009 for François Pinault, at a cost of €20 million, and it reopened as a museum in June 2009.
The name refers to the customs officers who once inspected every shipment entering the republic and regulated trade along the waterfront. Today art lovers from around the world visit the rotating displays in high-ceilinged rooms with exposed wooden beams and light reflected from the canal.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday and closes on Monday, with hours that may shift slightly depending on the season. Visitors should plan some time to walk through all floors and view the exhibitions at a comfortable pace.
On top of the building stands a golden sphere with two bronze figures holding a weathervane that turns with the wind. From the windows you can see three major Venetian waterways at once, giving the location its particular character.
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