The Venice Biennale - Biennale Terrace

The Biennale Terrace, located at the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, is one of the most iconic and evocative places of the prestigious international event. This panoramic space offers a breathtaking view of the Venice lagoon, creating a perfect environment for artistic and cultural reflection, as well as for social events and meetings between artists, curators, and art enthusiasts. The Venice Biennale, founded in 1895, is one of the most important cultural events in the world, known for its exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater. The Biennale Terrace is an integral part of this experience, providing a place for cultural exchange and meetings in a context of extraordinary natural beauty. Historically, the Giardini della Biennale have been the beating heart of the art exhibition. Created by Napoleon Bonaparte at the beginning of the 19th century, these gardens were designed to offer a green space in a city dominated by water and historic architecture. The Biennale Terrace, overlooking the lagoon, adds a unique dimension to this landscape, allowing visitors to enjoy the panoramic view while exploring the latest trends in contemporary art. From an architectural point of view, the Biennale Terrace is an example of how natural space can be harmoniously integrated with artistic exhibition. Its structure, designed to be discreet and respectful of the surrounding environment, uses local and sustainable materials, creating a continuous dialogue between the artwork and the natural landscape. This approach reflects a modern sensitivity towards sustainability and ecology, themes increasingly present in recent editions of the Biennale. The Terrace is often used for special events during the Biennale, such as openings, conferences, and live performances. These events attract an international audience and contribute to making the Biennale a meeting place for the art world. The Terrace also offers a space for contemplation and reflection, allowing visitors to take a break from the intense visual stimuli of the exhibitions and enjoy a moment of tranquility with an unparalleled view of the city and the lagoon. A significant example of the creative use of the Biennale Terrace was the 2019 edition, curated by Ralph Rugoff and titled “May You Live in Interesting Times”. The terrace was transformed into a place for meeting and dialogue, where artists and the public could discuss the exhibited works and the themes addressed by the exhibition, in a relaxed and stimulating context. This type of interaction is fundamental to the mission of the Biennale, which aims to promote not only the vision of art but also dialogue and cultural exchange.