Ca' Rezzonico
Ca' Rezzonico is Venice's museum of 18th-century art and life (Museo del Settecento Veneziano), housed in a Grand Canal palazzo that ranks among the finest examples of Venetian Baroque architecture. The building was begun in 1649 by Baldassare Longhena (the same architect behind Santa Maria della Salute) for the Bon family, then completed nearly a century later by Giorgio Massari for the Rezzonico family, who purchased the unfinished palace in 1751. Massari designed the sweeping ceremonial staircase and the grand ballroom with its enormous ceiling fresco by Giambattista Tiepolo. The Ca' Rezzonico museum collection spreads across three floors. The first floor features eleven rooms of paintings, sculptures, and period furnishings, including frescoed ceilings that survived intact. The second floor opens with a long central hall containing two early Canaletto vedute, followed by rooms dedicated to Pietro Longhi's scenes of Venetian daily life and Giandomenico Tiepolo's frescoes from Villa Zianigo, relocated here panel by panel. The third floor houses the reconstructed Ai Do San Marchi pharmacy, a complete 18th-century apothecary with original wooden fittings and ceramic jars, alongside the Egidio Martini painting collection. A mezzanine level displays the Mestrovich Collection, with works by Tintoretto and Bonifacio de' Pitati. The palazzo also served as Robert Browning's final residence; the English poet died here in December 1889. Ca' Rezzonico tickets can be purchased individually or as part of the MUVE museum pass covering multiple Venice civic museums.
Frequently Asked Questions
5 QuestionsWhat is Ca' Rezzonico?
Ca' Rezzonico is the Museum of 18th-Century Venice (Museo del Settecento Veneziano), housed in a baroque palazzo on the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro. It contains period furniture, paintings by Canaletto, Longhi, and the Tiepolos, frescoed ceilings, and a complete reconstructed 18th-century pharmacy.
How much does Ca' Rezzonico cost?
Ca' Rezzonico is part of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia system. Tickets can be purchased individually or as part of a museum pass that covers multiple civic museums. Check the MUVE website for current pricing. The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month.
What are the highlights of Ca' Rezzonico?
The Tiepolo ceiling fresco in the ballroom is spectacular. The second floor rooms with Pietro Longhi's intimate scenes of daily Venetian life and the relocated Tiepolo frescoes from Villa Zianigo are highlights. The reconstructed Ai Do San Marchi pharmacy on the third floor is a unique curiosity. Two early Canaletto paintings hang in the central hall.
What is the connection between Ca' Rezzonico and Robert Browning?
The English poet Robert Browning spent his final years in a mezzanine apartment at Ca' Rezzonico and died there on December 12, 1889. The Browning Mezzanine level of the museum acknowledges this connection and also displays the Mestrovich Collection of Renaissance paintings.
Is Ca' Rezzonico worth visiting?
Yes, particularly if you are interested in Venetian painting or decorative arts. The Tiepolo ballroom ceiling, the Longhi genre scenes, and the reconstructed 18th-century pharmacy are unlike anything in the city's better-known museums. The palazzo itself, with its Grand Canal views, is as impressive as the collection. Allow about 90 minutes.
