The Biennale Gardens, or Giardini della Biennale, bring an unusual stretch of greenery to Venice’s eastern Castello district. Tree-lined paths and shaded benches offer a change from the city’s stone streets, while the adjoining exhibition grounds house a collection of national pavilions used by the Venice Biennale.
The gardens were created in the early 19th century under Napoleonic rule, after religious buildings and houses were cleared to make public green space. The first Biennale art exhibition opened here in 1895, and national pavilions followed from 1907. Among the architectural highlights are Finland’s pavilion by Alvar Aalto, the Netherlands’ by Gerrit Rietveld and Venezuela’s by Carlo Scarpa.
The contrast between contemporary exhibitions and a leafy residential neighbourhood makes the area especially rewarding. Visit the pavilions during a Biennale exhibition, then explore nearby Via Garibaldi for local cafés and bakeries, or continue east towards Sant’Elena. The public gardens and ticketed exhibition grounds are separate, so check current opening dates and access arrangements before visiting; the pavilions are not generally open year-round. Arrive by vaporetto at Giardini or walk along the waterfront from San Marco, and bring water and comfortable shoes for exploring the grounds.