The places of Carlo Scarpa in Venice

Why choose this Venice tour ?

Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978) was one of the most influential architects in the 20th-century Italy, who skillfully interpreted Venice’s traditional architecture from a modern perspective. Since his early career, as artistic designer for Cappellin and Venini glass makers in Murano, Carlo Scarpa began to explore the vast potential of glass. By resuming ancient handcrafting processes and trying new glass blowing techniques, he developed chromatic and geometric solutions that changed Italian glass production forever. Since then, an innovative use of traditional raw materials has remained a distinctive feature of his works.
This itinerary between ancient and modern architecture is an opportunity that no one with a passion for beauty in Venice can miss out! An itinerary between ancient and modern architecture through the places of Carlo Scarpa.

This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 1 valid reviews on VIATOR

Book Now

Make the most of your Venice adventure

What makes The places of Carlo Scarpa in Venice a unique experience ?

The first destination of the tour is the Olivetti Showroom in St. Mark’s Square. This is a modern example of interaction between inner and outer space in architecture. The showroom recreates the theme of water by using a few decoration ‘devices’: a trickle of water flowing down in an ornamental fountain on the ground floor; tiny colored glass tiles covering the floor, so that it reflects the light by producing the flickering water effect that characterizes the surface of St Mark’s Square in times of high tide. Large windows flood the showroom with light that reverberates on the fountain’s water and the gray-purplish wall stucco. Floor colours gradually fade off, as the distance from the windows increases. The showroom is decorated using local materials, such as glass, marble, stone, and wood, which are beautifully juxtapposed to create a stylish ambience for the display of Olivetti typewriters. These machines from the 1950s and 1960s are therefore exhibited as if they were ‘jewels in a museum’.

Carlo Scarpa’s search for harmony between natural elements and architectural space is best illustrated at Venice’s Querini Stampalia Foundation, which is the next destination of the tour. Carlo Scarpa reinforced the building and renovated both the entrance hall of the museum and the palace’s garden. He regained control over an open portion of the building, which had been left in disuse because of being regularly flooded. Carlo Scarpa raised the area from the ground floor and transformed it into a walkway for the palace’s visitors. Water entering the ground floor was contained by a parapet wall and channelled into the rear garden. Thanks to this solution, water acquires an aesthetic value, while harmoniously coexisting with the other architectural elements of the building. This modern revisitation of an ancient building makes the former Querini Stampalia residence a masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture. The idea behind Carlo Scarpa’s project still inspires the mission of Querini Stampalia Foundation: opening to dialogue with society by creating a space for interaction and cultural exchange between the peoples of Venice.

Tour Description & Additional Info:

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
A maximum of 10 people per booking
No refund will be accepted for no shows or late arrivals.
The tour will take place also with rain, in the event of exceptional high tide it might be cancelled and refund will be provided.
On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

Check Availability

Options To Choose for Your Trip:

Italian
Add
English
Add