Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archeological Museum), Venice

In 1523, Cardinal Domenico Grimani bestowed upon the City of Venice a remarkable collection of sculptures and ancient artworks, some of which came from ancient Greece, Egypt, and Assyria-Babylon. Continuing from that, the National Archeological Museum now houses an exceptional array of Imperial Roman artifacts, including coins dating back to the earliest years of the Republic. Among other highlights is the collection of Roman funerary sculptures, or you may want to focus on other nearby sections featuring Napoleon's Palace rooms, works by Bellini, exhibits depicting Venetian life, weaponry and armor displays, ship-building artifacts, and items that once belonged to the Doge's Palace.

Certain pieces from the Grimani collections stand out due to their exceptional nature. Keep an eye out for the striking head of Athena from the 4th century BC, a trio of wounded Gallic warriors (Roman copies of Hellenistic originals), and busts depicting a range of Roman emperors such as Domitian, Vitellius, Hadrian, Trajan, Tiberius, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, and the infamous Caracalla.

At the far end of the museum, a door opens into the hall of Sansovino's library with its beautifully designed ceilings, ornate decorations, and exquisite architectural details.

Tip:
The M.A.N. is part of the museum complex in Saint Mark's Square, allowing visitors to explore multiple attractions with a single ticket. This ticket includes access to the Doge's Palace, the Correr Museum, and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana Library.