The gallery takes its name from a member of the rich family behind the more famous art museums in New York and Bilbao. The items that she accumulated over the years are still on display in the lovely white single storey villa that was her home for three decades. Apparently a visiting princess once said, "If you would only throw all those awful pictures into the Grand Canal, you would have the most beautiful house in Venice." I am personally very glad that particular piece of advice was ignored!

Most of the bright and crisply decorated rooms in the building exhibit works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, Magritte, Miró and others. The eclectic collection not only represents most of the major schools of the 20th century, but also offers personal insights about Guggenheim's life. For example, she was married to Max Ernst and promoted Jackson Pollock, and art created by both is also on show. Meanwhile, my favourite item is a stunning black and white photographic portrait of her by Man Ray.

In the grounds behind the edifice is the grave of the former resident, alongside those of the beloved pet dogs. Appropriately, the rest of the pleasant garden is full of relatively modern sculptures by the likes of Arp, Giacometti and Moore, making it an intriguing and often surprising spot in which to relax. However, even more eye-catching is Marino Marini's Angel of the Citadel, which proudly shows its erect member to the passing boats from the waterside terrace out front.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection is located in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni in Dorsoduro (Dorsoduro is the name of this part of Venice), which is a rather small 1-story building painted in white, half way between the vaporetto stops "Academia" and "Salute". So you have to get there on foot from either of the two stops. You won’t get lost since there are signs everywhere pointing towards the gallery.

If you come in through the entrance that is closer to the Academia, you will find yourself first in the Nasher Sculpture Garden, where there are several very interesting sculptures by modern masters. To the side of the garden you will find Peggy Guggenheim’s grave alongside the graves of 10 or 12 of her dogs.

The entrance to the main collection is in the middle of the Palazzo on the other side of the Garden. As you come in, you will find Picasso in the entrance hall, then Kandinsky, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Ernst, De Chirico, Pollock, and Brancusi in the rooms surrounding the entrance. There are about 40 paintings in the rooms but it feels like much much more. Then you exit the building to the terrace on the Grande Canal and you see Calder’s famous metal sculptures. Here they are painted in red. The museum also has a bookshop and a café, as well as a wing where temporary exhibitions take place. No pictures are allowed.