Overlooking the Grand Canal between Rialto and Ca’ Foscari, Palazzo Pisani Moretta is one of the jewels of Venetian architecture. Built in the fifteenth century and transformed over time into its eighteenth century Baroque form, the palace is distinguished by its flamboyant Gothic façade with large mullioned windows and by its sumptuous interiors decorated by great Venetian masters such as Giambattista Tiepolo, Jacopo Guarana, Gaspare Diziani, and Giuseppe Angeli. It features frescoed halls, an imposing double flight Baroque staircase, and precious Murano glass chandeliers illuminating salons used for events and celebrations. In the past, it housed masterpieces such as The Family of Darius before Alexander by Paolo Veronese, later acquired by the National Gallery and admired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1786. Privately owned, the palace has long attracted distinguished visitors and has served as a venue for historic celebrations such as the renowned Ballo del Doge during Carnival. Recently, former Belgian fashion designer Dries Van Noten acquired the building to transform it into a cultural center devoted to creativity, craftsmanship, and emerging talents, with his foundation scheduled to open in April 2026, further strengthening the dialogue between Venice’s centuries old history and the contemporary world.
Dries Van Noten Foundation
Recently, former Belgian fashion designer Dries Van Noten acquired the building to transform it into a cultural center dedicated to creativity, craftsmanship, and emerging talents, with the opening of the Fondazione Dries Van Noten scheduled for April 2026, further strengthening the connection between Venice’s centuries-old history and the contemporary. By bringing together different disciplines, the foundation will unite established figures and younger generations across art, design, fashion, architecture, and food, fostering dialogue between tradition and experimentation, as well as between the local context and international creativity.
