Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Expat Peggy Guggenheim gathered together this impressive body of contemporary art, and then she went one step further: She married one of her favorite artists, Max Ernst, though the marriage ended in divorce just four years later. The collection, which is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal, contains works by artists, such as Magritte, Picasso, Pollock, Chagall and Dalí. In the sculpture garden, you can pay your respects to the late Peggy herself, as well as her beloved dogs, who are buried beside her.

The Guggenheim Collection is closed on Tuesdays and does charge an admission fee, but you can check with the tourist office to see if any free-admission hours are being offered.