Visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Perched on the Grand Canal, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni has an architectural history that might catch you off guard. Of the five stories originally planned in 1749, only the first was ever completed. Instead of the intended massive, classical façade, you find a low, sprawling structure that feels surprisingly contemporary. No other residence could have served as a better sanctuary for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. An art enthusiast, gallerist, and patron, the New Yorker lived here for three decades. In 1980, following her death, her incredible modern art collection opened to the public, turning the Dorsoduro neighborhood of Venice into a focal point for some of the most significant 20th-century works in Europe.
The greatest masters of surrealism and abstract art
The first piece she ever purchased was Head and Shell, a sculpture by Jean Arp. Few people possessed the same instinct as Peggy Guggenheim for spotting talent, and the American spent her fast-paced life discovering, supporting, and elevating artists before adding their work to her collection. You will find that same spirit throughout the garden and the seven galleries of this atypical palace. Upon entering, the Angelo della Città by Marino Marini greets visitors and sets the tone. Inside, the heavy hitters of the early 20th century coexist in a striking harmony. From challenging abstract pieces to undisputed masterpieces, this immersion into the creative process is exceptional. You will encounter the most famous works, such as The Bather by Picasso, the intense Seated Woman II by Joan Miro, The Antipope by Max Ernst, Empire of Light by René Magritte, and the white cross of Kandinsky, the illustrious Weisses Kreuz. The list continues with Chagall, Dalí, Juan Gris, Paul Klee, and Pollock. In this unfinished palace, you are standing before one of the finest modern art collections in Europe. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation manages this precious site, which frequently hosts temporary exhibitions, continuing the mission of an art lover who dedicated her life to the craft.
Modern art with all sorts of different objects and works to see. Some pieces are honestly interesting and intriguing, others a bit less so, or even absurd or pointless for my taste.