Lisbon Autumn and Winter Special Exhibition

When in Lisbon with some free time, I often visit the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the newly reopened Calouste Gulbenkian Museum of Modern Art. Besides the permanent exhibitions, there are occasional thematic special exhibitions. This autumn and winter (late October - early January 2025), the main gallery of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon (Museu Calouste Gulbenkian) has teamed up with the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza to host the exhibition “Veneza em Festa” (roughly translated to Venice at Feast), unfolding the scroll of 18th-century Venetian feasts: 🖼️ In the 18th century, Venice was a must-visit destination for European elites on their “Grand Tour,” and today, it still attracts countless dreamers. From Canaletto to Guardi, from Tiepolo to Bellotto, the exhibition brings together the most splendid works from Venice’s golden age. The enchanting landscape paintings showcase the magnificent scenery of Venice’s winding canals and grand architecture, while festival and capriccio architectural paintings are brought back to life on canvas. Venice in these paintings is a city, a fantastical theater: sunlight sparkling on the ripples of the Grand Canal, boats navigating the waters, and St. Mark’s Square bathed in noise and fireworks. The exhibits are terrifyingly detailed. 💡 Speaking of Gulbenkian, the two great collectors of the 20th century – Thyssen and Gulbenkian – have also “joined” this feast due to their love for Venice, amassing a vast collection of precious artworks that further brighten this timeless city. 💡 Quote from something seen at the exhibition: “Venice has been painted and described many thousands of times, and of all the cities of the world is the easiest to visit without going there?” — HENRY JAMES 🚇 Subway: Walkable from Lisbon’s Red Line S. Sebastião station 🎫 Admission: Approximately 6 euros, free entry after 2 PM on Sundays #Portugal #Lisbon #LisbonTravel #EuropeanTravel #Venice #ArtExhibition #ArtGallery #Museum #ArtMuseum #Art