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The Venice Biennale turns the lagoon city into a global stage for art and architecture, with major exhibitions spread between the Giardini and the Arsenale. Staying at Il Palazzo Experimental on the Zattere promenade in Dorsoduro means you are right on the water, close to Venice’s key museums and perfectly placed to reach the Biennale easily while enjoying a quieter, more local neighbourhood.
The Venice Biennale, a landmark of contemporary culture
Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is one of the world’s most important cultural events. Its International Art Exhibition is mainly hosted in two complementary venues: the Giardini della Biennale, a historic park laid out on the eastern edge of Venice, and the former Arsenale shipyards, now converted into vast exhibition halls and galleries.
Every two years, Biennale Arte brings together artists, national pavilions and curators around a central theme. Installations occupy the Central Pavilion and the national pavilions in the Giardini, as well as the long brick naves of the Arsenale. On top of this, a dense “off-Biennale” programme spreads across palazzi and foundations all over the city, turning Venice into a walkable network of shows and performances for several months.
In alternate years, the Architecture Biennale, along with festivals dedicated to cinema, dance, theatre and music, takes over the same venues. For visitors, this means that Venice almost always has a major Biennale event running, with the Giardini and Arsenale as constant anchors.
Il Palazzo Experimental: your art-driven address in Dorsoduro
Il Palazzo Experimental stands on Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Lungo, directly on the Zattere waterfront in Dorsoduro, facing the Giudecca Canal. This district, slightly removed from the busiest tourist routes, is home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Galleria dell’Accademia, making it one of Venice’s key artistic hubs.
Inside the restored palazzo, 32 light-filled rooms and suites look either over the Giudecca Canal or onto a hidden rear garden. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon has drawn on Venetian architectural details – terrazzo-style floors, arched mirrors, marble and hand-glazed tiles – to create interiors that feel both contemporary and rooted in place. Minibars are stocked with local treats, and bathrooms echo the same refined material palette.
On the canal side, three separate doors lead to Ristorante Adriatica, the hotel reception and the Experimental Cocktail Club. At the back, the secret garden opens onto a quiet canal and a private pontoon, where you can arrive by boat or simply sit outside for breakfast, afternoon tea or an aperitivo before dinner.
From Dorsoduro to the Biennale: how to get there from the hotel
From Dorsoduro, reaching the Biennale is straightforward. Leaving Il Palazzo Experimental along the Zattere, you can cross the Accademia Bridge, walk through the historic centre, follow the waterfront past Saint Mark’s Basin and continue towards the Giardini and the Arsenale. What could be a simple transfer becomes a scenic walk past churches, palazzi and wide views over the lagoon.
If you prefer to travel by water, public vaporetti stop at GIARDINI BIENNALE and ARSENALE, right by the main entrances to the exhibition venues. These routes also connect to Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia train station, making it easy to combine your arrival in Venice with a first visit to the Biennale.
After a day among pavilions and installations, returning to Dorsoduro feels like stepping back into a lived-in neighbourhood. Narrow streets, canalside bàcari and small squares invite you to slow down before heading back to the hotel’s garden or bar.
Balancing art-filled days and peaceful evenings
Choosing Il Palazzo Experimental during the Biennale means combining world-class exhibitions with the slower rhythm of a residential neighbourhood. From the hotel you are a comfortable walk from Venice’s historic centre: about fifteen minutes from the train station and roughly twenty minutes from both Saint Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, while still enjoying the quieter atmosphere of Dorsoduro.
The 24-hour reception and concierge can arrange boat transfers on request, suggest the easiest routes to the Giardini and Arsenale, or point you toward smaller exhibitions and galleries scattered around Dorsoduro. Evenings can then unfold over a cocktail at the Experimental Cocktail Club, a dinner at Adriatica or a simple stroll along the Zattere as the sun sets over the Giudecca Canal.
Key Facts
- Location: Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Lungo, Dorsoduro, facing the Giudecca Canal
- Boutique hotel with 32 rooms and suites, many with canal or garden views
- Historic palazzo redesigned by Dorothée Meilichzon, with a secret garden and private pontoon
- Home to Ristorante Adriatica and the Experimental Cocktail Club Venice
- In the cultural heart of Dorsoduro, near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Galleria dell’Accademia
- Within walking distance of Saint Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, with easy connections to the Biennale venues
FAQ
Where is Il Palazzo Experimental located in relation to the Venice Biennale?
Il Palazzo Experimental sits on the Zattere in Dorsoduro, overlooking the Giudecca Canal. From here, you can reach the Biennale’s Giardini and Arsenale either by vaporetto, getting off at the GIARDINI BIENNALE or ARSENALE stops, or on foot via the historic centre and the waterfront promenade.
What is the easiest way to get from the hotel to the Giardini and Arsenale?
You can walk from Dorsoduro across the Accademia Bridge, continue through central Venice and follow the Riva towards the Giardini and Arsenale. Alternatively, public boats serve the GIARDINI BIENNALE and ARSENALE stops, placing you right by the main entrances to the exhibition venues.
Is Dorsoduro a good base for visiting the rest of Venice as well as the Biennale?
Yes. Dorsoduro combines a local feel with excellent access. From Il Palazzo Experimental you are only a short walk from the Guggenheim, the Accademia and the main bridges leading to San Marco and Rialto, while still enjoying a calmer atmosphere than in the most crowded areas.
Can the hotel arrange boat transfers connected to the Biennale?
The hotel offers boat transfers on request. You can contact the concierge team to discuss boat options to the Giardini, Arsenale or other Biennale locations, as well as timings and conditions.
Does the Biennale take place every year?
The International Art Exhibition is held every two years and is primarily based in the Giardini and Arsenale. In alternate years, the Architecture Biennale and other festivals organised by La Biennale di Venezia use the same venues, so there is almost always a major Biennale event in Venice
