The Wagner Museum

On February 13 1995 the room on the mezzanine floor where the famous composer, Richard Wagner died, was entrusted by the local authorities to the Associazione Richard Wagner di Venezia, headed by Giuseppe Pugliese. The area has since been turned into a museum and opened to the public in eternal memory of the composer and his love for Venice.

Since 2003 the adjacent rooms have also been added to the museum to house the Josef Lienhart collection; a donation including rare documents, posters, scores, signed letters, paintings, records, lithographs and various other heirlooms. This is now the largest private collection dedicated to the great German composer outside Bayreuth.

A secluded location, far from worldly disturbances. An escape from the burdens of day to day life and sentimental turmoil. In search of somewhere outside of time, somewhere magical enough to rekindle the light of nameless inspiration. Driven by a desire for peace and quiet, Richard Wagner made Venice his oasis.

"Life in the big city has become completely unbearable for me, mainly because of the din of carriages that infuriates me. Now everyone knows that Venice is the calmest city, I mean the quietest city in the world and that is why I have decided it is absolutely the place for me",                                                     he wrote in a letter to his father-in-law, Franz Liszt before arriving in Venice on the first of his six stays in August 1858.

On his return from Palermo, in April 1882, having completed the Parsifal score for the second edition of the Bayreuth Festival, scheduled for the summer of 1882, Wagner rented from Count Bardi, who was often out of town, the entire mezzanine floor of the Ca' Vendramin Calergi. The composer arrived on September 16, and spent his last winter here in the city with his family, before passing away on February 13 1883. Today a number of his rooms have been turned into a museum.

Now you can visit this incredible house with all the composer's memories.

Information:

Palazzo Vendramin Calergi
Cannaregio 2040
Just a few minutes' walk from S.Lucia station

Tel: 041 5297111

e-mail: info@casinovenezia.it