The Venice Biennale of Art is a not to be missed appointment for the contemporary art world, providing input to develop ideas in various art forms. For over a century, the International Art Exhibition has brought many acclaimed artists and potential talents to Venice who, through their work, have made thousands of visitors dream and reflect.

If you are keen on art, this article may be a valid reminder about the dates and opening times of the various pavilions of the Venice Biennale. Otherwise, it’s time to discover the history of one of the most prestigious events in Venice. Pack your bags!

The history of the Venice Biennale of Art

This year the Venice Biennale of Art celebrates 124 years. The Biennale is a bit like a beautiful woman, who is aging gracefully.
On April 30th, 1895 the I Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte in the City of Venice was inaugurated in the presence of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita di Savoia. The success was immediate.
Soon, the first international names started coming to the show: one room was dedicated to Klimt, the great Austrian painter; a personal space for Renoir, the famous French impressionist, and a retrospective for Courbet, the famous French realist, was also organized.
The boldness of Vittorio Pica, the new general secretary, was the keystone that led the Venice Biennale to become a reference point for the contemporary art world. He promoted the the presence of the first avant-garde artists, with works by Picasso, Modigliani, Chagall, Klee, Magritte and many others.
With an inflow of more than 260,000 visitors during the 50th edition in 2003, the Venice Biennale of Art reached its first record of presence.
As a result, the Biennale became the most visited exhibition in Italy: artistic projects and collateral events animate the city of Venice for almost 5 months, and 600,000 visitors from all over the world are welcomed.

The 58th edition of Venice Biennale of Art

The 58th International Art Exhibition will take place from May 11th to November 24th 2019: curated by Ralph Rugoff, currently the director of the Hayward Gallery in London, this new edition is titled May You Live in Interesting Times.
We suggest starting with the historic Central Pavilion (Giardini). You can reach it in 20 minutes by vaporetto from Piazzale Roma (line 6 towards Lido – Giardini Biennale stop), giving you opportunity to immerse yourself in a curious and unusual world.
Avoid to organize your visit on Monday, as the exhibition is closed that day and try to start your visit as early as possible, opening hours are from 10am to 6pm. Therefore, in the same day, you will be able to see the Central Pavilion and the Arsenale, another exhibition area not far from the Giardini.
For more info about online tickets, our staff will be happy to help you and give you some tips on how to visit the Venice Biennale and make the best of it.

The Venice Biennale of Art and 21 Collateral Events

Alongside the the opening of the main spaces of the Venice Biennale of Art, a series of collateral events also opens up to the public. All around Venice, calli and buildings are decorated with unique and original masterpieces, which sometimes appear a bit eccentric.
The list of these 21 events is available online, and each one has its own dedicated site. Visiting these spaces, you will have the opportunity to discover unknown Venice corners: you will have the chance to enter some buildings that, otherwise, are usually closed to the public.

The Venice Biennale of Art is a unique event of its kind. This exhibition is considered an evergreen in the art scene: in your list of things to do in Venice, it can represent the beginning of love with the contemporary art world.