Venice

Day 1 - Palazzo Grassi

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport then transfer to your hotel by private water taxi.

Head out to Palazzo Grassi. Here François Pinault, one of the most notable art collectors in the world, shares his extraordinary collection of contemporary art and hosts the work of some of the greatest living artists including Maurizio Cattelan, Marlene Dumas, and Damien Hirst. Site-specific works by major figures of the art world are created and showcased by invitation from Pinault. Students can see contemporary art in a wide range of forms including painting, installation, sculpture, video art, photography, and performance. The Palazzo Grassi was originally a home to the Grassi family, commissioned in the mid-1700s by Venetian architect Giorgio Massari, and students can witness key architectural features of the period, including a column-lined atrium as well as frescoes by Michelangelo Morlaiter and Francesco Zanchi.

Finish your day with dinner at a local restaurant offering a great introduction to Italian cuisine, including a pasta dish and a gelato to finish.

Day 2 - Piazza San Marco, Biennale the Giardini

This morning begins with a stroll to Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square). Venice’s main square is dominated by St Mark’s Basilica, with its four horses symbols of pride and power in Venice. Students can also see St Mark’s Clocktower and the offices of the Procurators of St Mark – the key offices of state when Venice was a republic.

From here, soak in the sun at Biennale the Giardini, the site of the Biennale Arte Exhibitions since 1895. In 1894, the first Palace of Exhibitions held artists from each country, exhibiting their works together in a show of unity. The success of the show led La Biennale to encourage foreign countries to build their own pavilions. Spread among the tree-lined promenades, the Giardini now hosts 29 pavilions including Finland’s trapezoidal design. The last pavilion was built by South Korea in 1995. 

The Biennale Arte Exhibitions are held every two years in odd-numbered years. If you are lucky, you might experience this while in Venice. Each edition typically runs from late spring through autumn, spanning several months. This schedule alternates with the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which takes place in even-numbered years. However, Giardini hosts a number of permanent national pavilions that are part of the Venice Biennale. Even outside the main exhibition periods, some pavilions may offer displays or have architectural significance worth exploring.

Unwind in the evening with a delightful dinner.

Day 3 - Gallerie dell'Accademia, The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Start your day with a visit to the Gallerie dell'Accademia – a cornerstone of the Venetian Renaissance. Giovanni Bellini’s mastery in colour and light, alongside Carpaccio's detailed narrative compositions, provide GCSE Art and Design students with unparalleled insights into classical techniques of perspective, composition, and thematic storytelling.

Continue exploring Venetian art today and take a short walk to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which showcases modern masterpieces of the 20th century. By engaging with works from Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, students can explore avant-garde techniques. This visit might even encourage them to take experimental approaches to their own work and deepen their understanding of modern art's impact on contemporary design and aesthetics.

After a long day of artistic exploration, finish your day at a restaurant with traditional Italian cuisine.

Day 4 - Making observational art sketches

Check out of your hotel and store your luggage.

To finish your Venetian school trip, students put all their artistic inspiration from the galleries to work. Today, students spend the day making observational sketches of Venice, giving them the perfect, original souvenir from their trip.

A private water taxi will then return you to Venice Marco Polo Airport for your flight home.