Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo

About the museum

The palazzo, already depicted in Jacopo de' Barbari's 1500 view of Venice, probably took its present appearance in the early seventeenth century; neither the date of construction nor the architect is known. It belonged to the San Stae branch of the Mocenigo family, descendants of Nicolò Mocenigo (1512–1588), brother of Doge Alvise I; its two façades, on the salizada (paved street) and on the canal, are characterised by Serlian windows.

The piano nobile (main floor) preserves frescoes and furnishings mostly from the second half of the eighteenth century, in Rococo and Neoclassical style; the ceilings were painted in 1787 for the wedding of a nephew of Doge Alvise IV to Laura Corner. In 1945 the last descendant of the family, Alvise Nicolò, bequeathed the palazzo to the city, with the instruction to make it a gallery complementary to the Museo Correr. At the end of the 1970s, after the death of Alvise Nicolò's wife, the rooms of the piano nobile with their frescoes and furnishings also passed to the Civici Musei Veneziani.

The museum opened in 1985, after extensive restoration, together with the Centro Studi di Storia del Tessuto e del Costume (today Centro Studi di Storia del Tessuto, del Costume e del Profumo), which holds collections of textiles and garments and a specialised library. In 2013 the display was renewed to a design by Pier Luigi Pizzi and expanded to twenty rooms, doubling the exhibition area: the historic garments engage in dialogue with furniture, paintings and objects that evoke the life of the Venetian patriciate between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. One section is devoted to the history of perfume in Venice.

Highlights

• Twenty rooms on the piano nobile with eighteenth-century frescoes and furnishings
• Historic garments and accessories from the Centro Studi di Storia del Tessuto, del Costume e del Profumo
• Display by Pier Luigi Pizzi, 2013
• Section on the history of perfume in Venice
• Specialised library on the history of fashion

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso di visita al piano nobile – Twenty rooms with furnishings, paintings, pastels, table services and glassware from the Civici Musei Veneziani, evoking the life of the Venetian patriciate in the 17th and 18th centuries, with historic garments from the Centro Studi displayed on mannequins.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)

Visitors per year

approx. 48,273

Admission & discounts

Online, only the reductions for the age bands 6–14, 15–25 and over 65 are available; other reductions are obtained at the ticket office with a document proving entitlement. Free admission for residents and people born in the Comune di Venezia, ICOM members, children aged 0 to 5, people with disabilities with one companion, licensed tourist guides, up to two accompanying teachers per class, volunteers of the Comune di Venezia civil service, MUVE partners, holders of the MUVE Friend Card, members of the association Amici dei Musei e Monumenti Veneziani and holders of certain partner cards (Art Pass Venice, Venetian Heritage, Save Venice; valid for two people).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

To reach the piano nobile, where the visit route takes place, there is a staircase; the toilets do not meet accessibility standards. It is advisable to call +39 041 721 798 before the visit. From the San Stae vaporetto stop the museum can be reached without obstacles, according to the directions of “Venezia Accessibile”. The historic building may have slight slopes, raised thresholds or steps of uneven height. Guided tours and workshops can be adapted to specific needs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

The museum has a baby pit-stop for breastfeeding, nappy changing and rest. MUVE Education offers workshops and routes for families with children and young people aged 5 to 14, lasting about an hour and a half, paid (€100 per activity, up to 10 participants, admission included) and booked online at least 10 days in advance. Trolleys and bulky luggage are not admitted in the museum; for pushchairs, please contact the museum.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum Store at the entrance with books, guides and gifts. Suitcases, trolleys and bulky luggage are not admitted; an unattended umbrella stand is available. Dog-sitting service bookable via Bauadvisor.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit