What is there
to see?

The small palace near Santa Maria Formosa and the Querini Foundation is somewhat tucked away, but fortunately plenty of signs point the way!

The palace was built in 1556 by the Grimani family and remained in their possession until 1865. Today, it is part of the State Museums of Venice and mainly showcases the family’s rich interior decorations.

On the first floor, you’ll find elaborately decorated rooms alternating with simpler ones, depending on their original function. While these rooms are indeed lavish, those seeking even more opulence should head to Ca’ Rezzonico—but that’s just a side note.

Two Grimani rooms stood out in particular. The Sala del Doge, completed in 1568, and the Grimani Tribuna, the most magnificent room in the building.

The “Sala del Doge” was commissioned by Giovanni Grimani in memory of Antonio Grimani, who served as Doge from 1434 to 1523 (hence the name). Here you’ll find numerous busts, including those of Caesar and Caracalla, and the room’s central sculpture group: “Dionysus and a Satyr”, dating from the second century AD.

The tour also includes a copy of the Laocoön group (the original standing in the Vatican Museums in Rome), along with an oversized head of Athena.

From here, it’s just a short walk to the highlight of the palace, the Grimani Tribuna!

This room can only be entered and exited through a single opening, meaning the architect/designer/artist had just three and a half walls to work with—and he made full use of them! In 16th-century Venice, no other room could rival this creation. The room was formerly known as the Antiquarium, and it’s easy to see why. It houses countless busts, statuettes, and statues from antiquity—allegedly more than 130 works—arranged in numerous niches and on ledges all the way up to the ceiling.

The vaulted ceiling itself is a marvel. The dome, with its central light, is also decorated, including Ganymede being abducted by the eagle (the “most beautiful of mortals”), said to be inspired by the Pantheon, given the room’s opening.

And one more thing not to be missed on the first floor: you’ll find a work by Jacopo Tintoretto depicting Giovanni Grimani himself! During my visit, there were also two loaned portraits of Giovanni by Tintoretto on display.

Palazzo Grimani
A bit of History

The palace was built in the 16th century by the Grimani family in 1556. They lived here until 1865, after which the property changed hands several times. By the time the city of Venice purchased it in 1981, it had fallen into serious disrepair. Extensive restorations followed, and it was finally opened to the public thirty years later, in December 2008.

The Grimani were a prominent Venetian patrician family, reaching the height of their power in the 15th and 16th centuries. They produced three Doges, all of whom served long terms: Antonio Grimani (1434–1523), 76th Doge; Marino Grimani (1532–1605), 89th Doge; and Pietro Grimani (1677–1752), 115th Doge.

The palace was designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli, who trained in Rome under Donato Bramante and even worked for the Vatican for a period. While most of his commissions were in Venice and Verona, he also travelled frequently to Greece for architectural projects.

A key figure in the palace’s creation was Giovanni Grimani (1506–1593), famously portrayed by Tintoretto. He was in his fifties when the palace was constructed. As a cleric and member of Venice’s upper echelon, he rose to the rank of bishop. However, he never became a cardinal, as he was suspected of sympathising with Lutheran ideas.