The Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo - Study Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes and Perfume

Discovering Venetian fashion

The Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo in Venice houses the Study Centre of the History of Textiles, Costumes and Perfume, offering a fascinating insight into the history of the palace and fashion. The building, built in the 16th century, has two façades with Venetian windows, typical of 17th-century Venetian architecture. One opens onto the street, the other onto the San Stae canal.

All the rooms overlook the “pòrtego” (large central hall). Inside are beautifully preserved frescoed ceilings, alongside Rococo and neoclassical furnishings, briarwood doors, and carved and gilded cornices. In 1945, the palace was donated to the municipality of Venice and converted into an art gallery.

Today, it houses antique textile and clothing collections, a specialised library housing 13,000 sketches from the 18th to the 20th century, and an exhibition over 20 rooms that displays the life of the Venetian aristocracy between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Some rooms of the museum are dedicated to perfume, with over 200 essences, a collection of perfume bottles and flasks, and multimedia and sensory tools that turn your visit into a true immersive experience. You can also take part in a workshop to create your own fragrance – a truly unmissable experience.