Palazzo Querini Stampalia

Lonely Planet review

The last of this branch of the Querini family ordained that its mansion should become home to a foundation of the same name, which it has been since the 1860s.

Never judge a book by its cover. The outer shell of this building dates from the first half of the 16th century, but the inside could not be more surprising.

In the 1940s, Carlo Scarpa redesigned the entrance and garden. He then did the 1st floor (which houses the foundation's library) in 1959. Scarpa decided to have some disciplined fun with shape, and, in the garden in particular, took inspiration from the Arab emphasis on geometric patterns. It may or may not appeal, but it does make a refreshing change. After all, there is little that is 'modern' in Venice.

On the 2nd floor is the Museo della Fondazione Querini Stampalia. The core of the collection is made up of period furniture that mostly belonged to the Querinis, portraits of more illustrious family members and various papers. Among the some 400 paintings, mostly minor works, is an interesting Presentazione di Gesù al Tempio (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple) by Giovanni Bellini.

On Friday and Saturday, small concerts are held at 17:00 and 20:30 for museum visitors.