Venice: a personal art tour of Italy’s lagoon city

Year-round, an appreciation of art is a critical factor for many of Knight Frank’s clients, a desire to immerse themselves fully in the dynamic artist environment that Venice offers. Some are looking for a property suitable to hang their own private collection – ideally with high ceilings and few frescos – while others plan to spend leisurely time seeing first-hand the masterpieces collected in the city. And as a safe and compact city with low crime and little pollution, walking between galleries is part of the city’s appeal. Smaller exhibition spaces are found throughout San Marco with larger spaces more usually found in Giudecca and Cannaregio.

"Venice holds a distinct position in the international real estate market due to its rich cultural heritage and unique lifestyle, attracting buyers seeking a slower pace of life and historical significance," explains Andrew Blandford-Newton, Senior Negotiator and International Agent at Knight Frank. "International buyers want properties near iconic landmarks, and high ceilings and original frescos are often on the wish list.”

Blandford-Newton adds that stringent planning regulations and limited space for new developments means existing properties in prime locations consistently experience price growth. "The demand for turnkey properties has notably increased since the pandemic. Developments such as Palazzo Ponte Piccolo, comprising seven luxury residences on the island of Giudecca, reflect a shift towards convenience and immediacy among buyers."

“Art is at the heart of the city because Venice is a fantastic calling card,” says Bombassei. “We call the city a ‘trampolino di lancio’, a springboard, a stepping-stone to success for everything, paintings sculpture, fashion and collectors. Whether it is an established brand like Prada or a new contemporary artist, everyone wants a space in Venice and people here are so curious to see everything that is new.”

Two examples highlight this well. The first is Milan-based gallerist Tommaso Calabro’s venue on the noble floor of Palazzo Donà Brusa in Campo San Polo. Since opening his first space in Milan in 2018, Calabro has built a fine reputation for modern and contemporary art and his first exhibition in Venice included works by the late American painter Harold Stevenson.

Secondly, Galeries Bartoux have chosen Venice for their first Italian gallery. This long-established family firm, with 20 galleries across France and in Miami, New York, London and Monaco, plan to open space in 2025 in a fully restored 16^th Century theatre at the foot of the Accademia Bridge, in the heart of Dorsoduro.

“People will always come to Venice to see the beauty in the Renaissance paintings but there is especially strong interest in viewing and investing in contemporary art at present,” says Bombassei. “But across every discipline, interior design, sculpture, photography, Venice has something to offer. A good starting point for anyone wanting to explore the art scene is to look at the wonderful Marsilio Arte website. They have a constantly updated list of all art activities in Venice, covering publishing, exhibitions, museums and events.”