{"id":28292,"date":"2020-12-10T10:27:35","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T10:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/?p=28292"},"modified":"2023-07-11T13:54:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T12:54:07","slug":"the-grand-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/the-grand-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"The Grand Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have Attila the Hun to thank for Venice. When his rampaging hordes entered Italy in the 5th century AD upon the collapse of the Roman Empire, the good citizens of the northeast plain took refuge on a hundred or so flat, marshy islands out in the lagoon at the edge of the Adriatic Sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A network of bridges and causeways gradually linked many of the islands and, to ensure a quick getaway by water, the inhabitants built a honeycomb of canals instead of streets. The unique city of Venice grew up and became a maritime and trading powerhouse, lavishing its mercantile wealth on fabulous art and architecture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If, like most visitors, your time is limited to a few days and you want to pack in as much art as possible, what better way than to make your way down (or up) one of the world\u2019s most famous waterways, the Grand Canal, where you will find half a dozen world class public and private art museums with collections covering a wide spectrum of art genres and eras. Some are literally lapped by waves from passing \u2018vaporettos\u2019, \u2018motoscafos\u2019 and, yes, gondolas, with \u2013 added bonus – among the best canal-side cafe locations in all of Venice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ca\u2019