Fondaco dei Turchi (Natural History Museum)
Fontego dei Turchi – Museo di Storia Naturale
A Venetian-Byzantine palace on the Grand Canal that once served as a warehouse for Ottoman merchants and now houses the Venice Natural History Museum.
The Fondaco dei Turchi is one of the oldest buildings on the Grand Canal. It was built in the 13th century as a noble residence, and its arcaded façade is a classic Venetian-Byzantine style. From 1621 to 1838 it was leased to Ottoman merchants as a warehouse and residence, which gave it its name. In the 19th century it was extensively restored to its present form. It now houses the Ligabue Natural History Museum, with the skeleton of Ouranosaurus found in the Sahara, a giant crocodile fossil, exploration collections and specimens of animals and plants. It is well suited to families. It is usually open from Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 10:00 to 18:00 in summer and until 17:00 in winter. It is closed on Mondays, so check the official website. Take Vaporetto Line 1 to the San Stae stop, a 3-minute walk away. You can also see its façade from the boat.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00/18:00 (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Venetian Ghetto
- Ca' d'Oro
- Madonna dell'Orto
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
- Rialto Market
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco
- Grand Canal & Rialto Bridge
- Fondaco dei Tedeschi