Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro

The Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro is a non-profit cultural institution established in 2019 by a group of French and Venetian entrepreneurs and professionals, united by a shared passion for culture in all its forms and by deep ties with Venice. Its mission is to restore life and soul to Palazzo Vendramin Grimani, a historic building overlooking the Grand Canal.

Its public opening in 2021 took place after two years of restoration work aimed at returning not only the building’s former splendour, but also a functionality capable of hosting a wide range of activities throughout the year. The Foundation aims to bring to life a place that had not previously been open to the public and, in keeping with the spirit of a Venetian residence, to revive it in rhythm with the seasons through an eclectic programme of events, open to all those who dare to make their way to its entrance.

Indeed, the labyrinthine path that visitors take to reach it—so typical of Venice—enhances the secretive and mysterious character of this palace, which today hosts temporary exhibitions, artist residencies, and literary events in the form of lectures and conversations. With a desire to adapt to the present while respecting the history of the site and of Venice itself, the Foundation is a space for international encounters, dialogue, and creation, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. The refined palace thus becomes both the starting point and the destination of that journey—real or imagined—which, today as in the past, makes Venice a bridge between East and West.