25.03.2023 – 7.01.2024

Money, power, culture, technology – the story of the world’s greatest and best-known seaside city is waiting to be discovered!

The exhibition provides an enticing overview of the rise, heyday, and fall of the Republic of Venice and the city’s current struggles with the rising sea level and mass tourism.

Undying works of art, historical finds, interactive solutions, and captivating design introduce the astonishing history and most important figures of one of the most powerful countries of the Mediterranean Sea.

The exhibition ‘Venezia – Queen of the Seas’ starts by introducing the unique geography and historical institutions of the gorgeous city – in English also known as Venice. The most prominent leaders and citizens of the town will have a word.

Then, we will familiarise ourselves with Venice as a trading town: the sea routes, trade flows, and technical solutions here enabled the historical republic to rule the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern communities of the Silk Road.

Special attention will be paid to the heart of the sea power of Venice – the Arsenal. This first modern shipyard in the world was able to manufacture a battleship a day in its heyday.

After the downfall of the republic, Venice has had to find itself again and secure its place on the world map. The last part of the exhibition talks about Venice as a tourist destination and its struggle with the rising sea level, which may drown the beautiful city in our lifetime.

The exhibition is complemented by a display of the relations between Estonia and Venice, which start with the visits of the cultural figures of the first half of the twentieth century to the floating city and end with the successful performances of our greatest artists at the world-famous Venice Biennale.

The exhibition ‘VENEZIA – Queen of the Seas’ is open at the Seaplane Harbour from 25 March 2023 to 7 January 2024.

Embark on an unforgettable journey, which intertwines history, art, legends, and fascinating people!