La Biennale di Venezia 2014: Elements of Architecture.

Thanks to Monocle I was introduced to what La Biennale di Venezia is.

Every summer Venice hosts a festival, on odd years is the Art Biennale and on even years is the Architecture Biennale. The Venice Film Festival is present each year. This year’s Biennale dell’Architettura runs from June 7th through November 23rd and it’s directed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas.

The Biennale develops itself mainly in two places:

• The Giardini: historic parksland with gardens created by Napoleon Bonaparte, and contains 30 permanent pavilions, each one to host a particular nation. 
• The Arsenale: the Aperto counts with outstanding big spaces and adjoins exhibitions by generally young artists not represented by the permanent national pavilions.

A total of 65 nations will be exhibiting this year, and since the Giardini and Arsenale do not offer enough space for all of them, events and exhibitions will be also held throughout Venice and most of them will be at no cost.

Very detailed planning is required if wanting to cover most exhibitions between the Arsenale and the Giardini. It’s recommended to do it in two days, and the Biennale does offer 2-day tickets for €30 and there are different locations, but it’s easier to do in advance through their website - click here to purchase.

Venues, dates and opening times
Venice, Giardini and Arsenale, 7th June > 23rd November 2014
Opening times: 10 am – 6 pm
Opening times of the Arsenale venue: 10 am - 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays until 27th September
Closed on Mondays (except June 9 and November 17, 2014)

*similar dates will take place in 2015 for the 56th International Art Exhibition

Visits
The ticket is valid for one entry to each of the two exhibition venues (Giardini and Arsenale) also on non-consecutive days.
Permanent Pass and Special 2days are valid for multiple entries to each exhibition venue (Giardini and Arsenale)
Small/medium sized pets are allowed in the green area at Giardini.

Tickets
Special 2days -full price € 30 (pass valid for two consecutive days for both venues)
Special 2days -concession for Under 26 € 22 (pass valid for two consecutive days for both venues)
Regular -full price € 25 (ticket valid for a single entry to each venue also on non-consecutive days)

The exhibitions has had really good reviews.

All information is on the official website: www.labiennale.org