Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Art museum and library near Santa Maria Formosa, Venice, Italy
The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is an art collection and library housed in a historic Venetian palace in the Castello district. Inside, the building holds paintings, books, manuscripts, and features redesigned interiors by architect Carlo Scarpa, who carefully combined modern spaces with the original structure.
Count Giovanni Querini Stampalia founded the institution in 1869, converting his family residence into a public space for art and learning. This action preserved an important Venetian collection and made it accessible to the community rather than keeping it private.
The collection reflects Venetian artistic traditions across centuries, with works that show how the city's creative life developed over time. As you walk through the rooms, you encounter paintings and objects that reveal what mattered to the people who lived here.
The museum and library are open Tuesday through Sunday and sit near Campo Santa Maria Formosa, within easy walking distance of main areas. The rooms spread across several levels of the palace, so expect stairs and allow time to explore at a comfortable pace.
The library remains open on Sundays when most other Venetian libraries close, providing uninterrupted access to its collections. This unusual schedule comes from the founder's wish to serve the public even on days when cultural institutions typically shut down.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
