Oriental Art Museum

Visiting Venice is a great experience for art lovers as there are lots of Venice museums and galleries. The Oriental Art Museum is one of the places you can’t miss. Together with the Gallery of Modern Art in Ca’ Pesaro, it’s part of an exciting museum complex. Visitors can enjoy an extensive collection of different items from Japan, China, and Southeastern Asia.

Getting to the museum

The Oriental Art Museums stands in the Santa Croce neighborhood. You can find it on the third floor of the Ca’ Pesaro palace, overlooking the Grand Canal. You can either walk or arrive by vaporetto. Take Line 1 and get off at the San Stae stop.

Why you should visit

The collection you can see today exists because of Prince Henry of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi. He gathered the items during his round-the-world travels in 1887 - 1889. It is a comprehensive collection of more than 30 000 pieces. These include paintings, porcelains, textiles and costumes, weapons, and armors. Most of the pieces come from Japan, but also China, Thailand, and Cambodia. The collection of Japanese art from the Edo Period (1614 - 1868) is one of the best in the world and wouldn't leave anyone indifferent. It is among the most important European art collections from this period. At the Oriental Art Museum you can explore the oriental culture and its fine craftsmanship.

Things to do in the area

Santa Croce is a busy neighborhood with Santa Lucia Train Station and Piazzale Roma. Despite that, it has many fascinating sites to explore! Close to the Oriental Art Museum, you’ll see the Natural History Museum, a perfect place for a family visit. Less than 5 minutes from the palace is the Ca Mocenigo, one of the Venice museums dedicated to fashion. If you want an authentic Venice experience, head to the nearby Rialto Market. It is where you’ll find locals buying fresh produce and delicious seafood. From there, you can continue to San Polo. Two of the best Venice churches, Chiesa di San Polo and Basilica dei Frari, are part of that neighborhood.