Two Venetian Palaces: the Life, History and Private Art Collections of two Prominent Venetian Noble Families After 20 years of extensive restoration which made it totally inaccessible, in December 2008 Palazzo Grimani finally opened to the public, and Venice gained a very special and valuable addition to its museums circuit. Palazzo Grimani in Santa Maria Formosa is in fact one of the most remarkable examples of Renaissance architecture and decorative arts in Venice, reflecting the extraordinary and somewhat bizarre taste and passion for art of one of its owners, Patriarch Giovanni Grimani. Just a bridge away, as Venetians say, lies Palazzo Querini Stampalia, which still houses the entire collection of paintings, furnishings, porcelains, sculptures and artworks of the Querini family, one of the oldest noble families in Venice. In the early 1960s Carlo Scarpa restored parts of the building and redesigned the courtyard garden. Later additions by Mario Botta have converted this palace into a very interesting blend of old and contemporary elements, a rare occurrence in the city. If you have been to Venice before, you are fond of art and would love to see something really special, this tour is for you