Punta della Dogana occupies the triangular tip of Dorsoduro, where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal. The former sea customs house now holds François Pinault’s contemporary art collection, and people come for the art, the architecture, and the views across the water to San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore.
The Dogana da Mar dates to the 17th century. Above its tower, two Atlas figures hold up a golden globe crowned by a figure of Fortuna, who turns with the wind. Tadao Ando restored the interior for its 2009 reopening. He kept the brick walls and wooden trusses of the long warehouse halls and added a polished concrete cube at the center. Windows at the point frame the lagoon. Since 29 March 2026, the galleries have hosted a major survey of American artist Lorna Simpson. It is her first exhibition in Europe on this scale and focuses on more than a decade of her painting (Pinault Collection).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
One ticket covers both Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi, which together show four 2026 exhibitions. Book online through the official ticket office. The museum typically opens 10:00–19:00, with last entry one hour before closing, and closes on Tuesdays. Check the official site before you go. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit. Take vaporetto Line 1 to the Salute stop, then pair your visit with the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute next door.
