Museo Correr

Description

The design and early construction of the Napoleonic Wing date back to the years when Venice was part of the Kingdom of Italy (1806–1814), with Napoleon as sovereign and his stepson Eugène de Beauharnais as viceroy. The site, previously occupied by the church of San Geminiano (rebuilt in the mid-16th century by Jacopo Sansovino) and located between the Procuratie Vecchie and Procuratie Nuove on St Mark’s Square, once housed offices and residences of the highest authorities of the Venetian Republic.

Originally conceived as a royal residence, the Napoleonic Wing was completed only in the 19th century, under Austrian rule. It became the official residence of the Habsburg court during their frequent stays in Venice, and later served as the Venetian residence of the King of Italy. The monumental double façade, the imposing portico, the large staircase and the opulent ballroom were designed by Giovanni Antonio Antolini, Giuseppe Soli and Lorenzo Santi.

The interior decoration was created by the Venetian painter Giuseppe Borsato, combining personal style with influences from the French Empire and the Biedermeier aesthetics of major European courts. The frescoed ceiling of the main staircase — The Glory of Neptune — was painted by Sebastiano Santi in 1837–38. The building preserves many features of both the Napoleonic and Habsburg periods: its neoclassical architecture, decorations, frescoes and furnishings make it an important record of the culture and style of that era. French taste blends with a renewed interest in Italian art, stimulated by archaeological discoveries of the late 18th century. The result is an ideal setting for exhibiting the works of Antonio Canova, while the symbolic role of the Napoleonic Wing — deliberately contrasting the old Doge’s Palace — marked an intended new chapter in the history of Venice.

Opening Hours

1 November – 31 March: 10:00 – 17:00 (last admission 16:00)

1 April – 31 October: 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00)

Closed on 25 December and 1 January

 

Ticket Price

The Museums of St Mark’s Square Ticket (includes Museo Correr, National Archaeological Museum, Monumental Rooms of the Marciana Library and the Doge’s Palace):

– Full price (online at least 30 days in advance): €25.00

– Full price (standard): €30.00

– Reduced (online at least 30 days in advance): €13.00

– Reduced (standard): €15.00

New Itinerary of the Royal Rooms Ticket (Museo Correr + Archaeological Museum + Monumental Rooms of the Marciana Library):

– Full price: €14.00

– Reduced: €11.00

Contacts

Phone: +39 041 240 5211

Website: correr.visitmuve.it