To coincide with the Venice Biennale, which is where the original idea for Le Monde Béryl was conceived, creative director and co-founder Lily Atherton Hanbury shares some of her favourite spots in the Italian city known for its endless beauty amongst its canals.

1. Prada Foundation

2026 sees the inspired pairing of artists Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince - a creative dialogue that curator Nancy Spector will explore and unpick for the first time across more than 50 works, including photographs, video, installation, painting and sculpture. New work by both Jafa and Prince will feature alongside a publication made by the artists, which brings together images they exchanged as this exhibition came to fruition.

2. La Zucca

With its emphasis on vegetables and its unique place in the lagoon, La Zucca, which was set up in 1980 is both aesthetically charming and delicious. It has two intimate rooms featuring decor crafted from traditional boat materials while the terrace has a handful of highly in demand tables. Book!

3. Palazzo Ducale

The ‘Doge’s Palace’ is a fascinating amalgamation of Venetian Gothic architecture coupled with Renaissance styling. Situated in St Mark’s Square, it sets the city’s historical scene with aplomb, artefacts and endless beauty; from marble the shade of butter, to a golden staircase (the Scala d’Oro) alongside artworks by Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian and Giambattista Tiepolo. Leaden windows throughout give evocative views of the courtyard below and the city.

4. The Dries Van Noten Foundation

The Belgian fashion designer who stepped down from his namesake brand in 2024, opens his new endeavour this Biennale with an exhibition titled ‘The Only True Protest is Beauty.’ Central to the designer and his partner Patrick Vangheluwe’s vision is the marrying of established and emerging voices from across a breadth of cultural and craft related practises.

5. Paolo Olbi

A bookbinder since 1962 - the impeccably turned out Paolo is a true artisan of this ancient craft and along with his team produces with traditional methods, machinery and materials. For very particular art bindings, Paolo collaborates with other artisans, who might specialise in materials, such as marble, glass and silver.

6. The Madonna dell’Orto Church

Ten artworks by Jacopo Tintoretto, including ‘Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple’ are housed in his neighbourhood church, the Madonna dell’Orto, where he is also buried. Meanwhile, a large collection of the artist’s various masterpieces - he was born in Venice between the 15th and 16th centuries - can be seen at the fantastic Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

7. Palazzo Grassi & Punta della Dogana

The Pinault Collection is a vast collection of 10,000 works of art with temporary exhibitions by international artists hosted at both of these locations in Venice. This year, a solo exhibition of American artist Lorna Simpson will be a highlight of the Biennale. Simpson’s distinct approach to photography during the mid 1980s paved the way for a longstanding, thoughtful career examining image making. The show will feature 50 works, including paintings, collage, sculpture, installation and film, alongside new works created specifically for this exhibition.

8. Palazzo Gritti

This hotel which opened in the 19th Century, though the palace itself dates back to 1475, has one of the most sought after views of Venice. Set on the Grand Canal, its terrace was made for an excellent aperitivo.

9. Peggy Guggenheim Collection

‘It is always assumed that Venice is the ideal place for a honeymoon,’ said Peggy Guggenheim. ‘This is a grave error. To live in Venice or even to visit it means that you fall in love with the city itself. There is nothing left over in your heart for anyone else.’ One of modern art’s most daring collectors and champions, Guggenheim’s early career in London - she opened a gallery there in 1938 - is the theme of the museum’s current show. Highlights will include Eileen Agar, Barbara Hepworth, Kandinsky, Rita Kernn-Larsen, Piet Mondrian, Henry Moore, Cedric Morris and Sophie Taeuber-Arp,

10. Caffè Florian

A Venetian icon. The oldest coffee shop in Italy, Caffè Florian was born in 1720. It has featured in ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ and ‘Summertime’ while its book of signatures brings together Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and author of ‘Death in Venice’, Thomas Mann.

11. Codognato

Recently described by Vogue as ‘macabre yet magnificent’, Codognato is considered a fine jewellery institution, celebrated for its unique serpent bracelets, memento mori skeleton pendants or antique cameo necklaces. Established in 1866 - it’s still family run - this intimate atelier, close to Piazza San Marco, though suitably tucked away on Calle Vallaresso, is essentially an art gallery for high jewellery obsessives.

12. Harry’s Bar

Simply put, a Bellini at this institution - set up in 1931 - is always a fine Venetian idea. Invented in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harrys - the secret is in the blending of specifically white peaches to make a puree which is then mixed with Prosecco.