Querini Stampalia Foundation

The Querini Stampalia Foundation, located in the Castello district in Venice, is one of the most fascinating cultural institutions in the city. Founded in 1869 by Count Giovanni Querini Stampalia, the last descendant of the noble Venetian family Querini Stampalia, the foundation aims to promote culture, research, and knowledge, and to preserve and enhance the artistic and historical heritage of the family. The Querini Stampalia Palace, which houses the foundation, is a historic building dating back to the 16th century and is located in Campo Santa Maria Formosa. This palace is not only an architectural monument, but also a true treasure trove of art and culture. Inside, there are the library, the archive, the art gallery, and a series of exhibition rooms that tell the story of the family and of Venice. One of the most fascinating aspects of the foundation is its library, open to the public and accessible even on holidays, a unique feature among Venetian public libraries. With almost 400,000 volumes, including manuscripts, incunabula, and rare books, the library is a place of study and research frequented by students, scholars, and history enthusiasts. The art gallery of the Querini Stampalia Foundation houses a vast collection of artworks ranging from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Among the most famous masterpieces are “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple” by Giovanni Bellini, a work that expresses deep private devotion and intense emotional charge, and a rich series of paintings by Pietro Longhi, famous for his vivid representations of Venetian life in the 18th century. Another must-see attraction of the foundation is the area designed by architect Carlo Scarpa in the 1960s. Scarpa, famous for his unique and innovative approach, transformed the ground floor and the garden of the palace, creating a space that masterfully blends historical and modern elements. The garden, in particular, is a design masterpiece, with a fountain and a system of canals that recall typical Venetian architecture. The foundation is also involved in the program “Preserving the Future,” which involves integrating contemporary artworks into the palace. Artists such as Joseph Kosuth, Kiki Smith, and Mona Hatoum have contributed with installations and works that dialogue with the historical and architectural context of the foundation, creating a bridge between past and present. An interesting anecdote concerns the work “Untitled – Wall #5” by Elisabetta Di Maggio, created in 2004. The artist carved the plaster of one of the rooms of the palace with a scalpel, revealing layers of previous repaintings. This meticulous and reflective work represents a dialogue between past and present, between memory and contemporaneity, and perfectly embodies the foundation’s philosophy of preserving the future.