Discover Punta della Dogana

Punta della Dogana by Thomas MayerPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Discover the history and explore in an unusual way the spaces of the ancient Venice dogana da mar -sea custom-, restored in 2009 by Tadao Ando and converted into an exhibition space of Pinault Collection.

Punta della Dogana by ORCH orsenigo_chemolloPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

During the fifteenth century, developments in Venice’s commercial activities led to the Sea Customs House being transferred...

...to the western point of Dorsoduro

while it had previously been near the Arsenal.

Punta della Dogana by ORCH orsenigo_chemolloPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

The building as it stands today was completed in 1682...

...five years before the nearby Basilica of the Salute. 

Punta della Dogana, terrazze by ORCH orsenigo_chemolloPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Architect Giuiseppe Benoni’s work is characterised by the tower...

surmounted by a sculptural group representing two Atlases lifting a golden bronze sphere...

...on the top of which is Fortune, which, by turning, indicates the direction of the wind.

Punta della Dogana by Matteo De FinaPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

The building continued to be a customs house, and thus intrinsically linked to the city’s history, until the 1980s. After twenty years of abandonment, the Venice city council announced a tender to transform it into a contemporary art space.

Time Lapse - Punta della Dogana by Ugo De BertiPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

The Pinault Collection was awarded the tender in 2007, and entrusted the restoration of the imposing complex to architect Tadao Ando. 

Punta della Dogana by Lab80 FilmPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

In June 2009, after 14 months of work, Punta della Dogana reopened to the public and since then has been presenting temporary exhibitions. Together with Palazzo Grassi and the Teatrino, it is one of the three exhibition spaces of the Pinault Collection in Venice.

Punta della Dogana, prima navata by Andrea JemoloPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

The first room

Tap to explore

The central cube is characterized by the juxtaposition between the paving stones and reinforced concrete, a signature of architect Tadao Ando. It is the real core of the building.

Punta della Dogana, cubo by Delfino Sisto Legnani e Marco Cappelletti.Palazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

As part of the exhibitions presented at Punta della Dogana from 2009, the cube room has been the setting of some of the most spectacular installations.

Punta della Dogana, cubo by Matteo De FinaPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Time Lapse - Gilbert & George - "Dancing with Myself" a Punta della DoganaPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Time Lapse Wall Drawing #343" di Sol LeWitt a Punta della Dogana by Giovanni PellegriniPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Incontro con Tadao Ando by MaCo FilmPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

In 2019, Tadao Ando met the public in the cube room, presenting a talk about his work and celebrating the ten years anniversary of the renovation of the spaces of Punta della Dogana.

Punta della Dogana, piano terra by Marco CappellettiPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Punta della Dogana by Marco CappellettiPalazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana

Tap to explore

The exhibition rooms of the second floor

Tap to explore

The belvedere terraces, overlooking Saint Mark's Basin

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more

Interested in Travel?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites