Deep in the heart of the Venetian lagoon, where history, art, and culture coexist in its palaces and canals, Countess Chiara Modica Donà dalle Rose stands as one of the city’s most vibrant cultural ambassadors. Born in Venice and shaped by life across Europe — from Paris to Rome and Strasbourg — she embodies the spirit of a true Renaissance figure: a philanthropist, lawyer, art curator, collector, artist, and champion of culture who invites visitors and insiders alike to experience Venice far beyond the typical tourist trail.
Chiara serves as the President of the Donà dalle Rose Foundation, an institution she formed together with her husband, Francesco Donà dalle Rose, rooted in aristocratic legacy and dedicated to fostering art, culture, human dignity, and cross-cultural dialogue in Venice and internationally.
The Donà dalle Rose Foundation: Heritage, Art, and Global Culture
Founded on the philanthropic lineage of the Donà dalle Rose and Modìca Scandelibeni families, the Donà dalle Rose Foundation champions a wide spectrum of cultural activities — from visual arts and literature to music, philosophy, theatre, and film. Its ethos reflects a belief that culture and heritage are living, evolving forces that must be shared with both local communities and international audiences.
The Foundation is also an active steward of archival legacies, assembling family historical records and intellectual collections, and serving as an exclusive certifying institution for certain artists’ archives.
Palazzo Donà dalle Rose: Venice’s Cultural Heartbeat
At the core of Countess Chiara’s work is Palazzo Donà dalle Rose, a 17th-century Venetian palace perched on the Fondamenta Nove in the Cannaregio district. Built by Doge Leonardo Donà in the early 1600s and still owned by the family today, the palazzo has long been both a private residence and a living cultural venue where history and contemporary creativity meet.
While not regularly open to the public, the palace’s grand interiors — including its Baroque-decorated piano nobile and frescoed halls — become dynamic stages for exhibitions, music, and festivals during Venice’s Biennale and other cultural seasons. These spaces have hosted national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, including exhibits from Iran (2017), San Marino (2022), and Cameroon (2024), bridging local heritage with international art discourse.
Curating Culture: Major Events and Artistic Programs
Under Countess Chiara’s guidance, Palazzo Donà dalle Rose and the Foundation have cultivated numerous culturally rich events that draw art lovers, thinkers, and global creators:
Una Marea di Libri (A Flood of Books) — Literary Festival
The foundation’s ongoing literary festival invites authors and thinkers from around Italy and beyond to present works, engage with readers, and celebrate literature in the evocative Venetian setting. The program includes talks, book launches, and the announcement of the Premio Letterario del Doge e della Dogaressa — a literary prize presented at the palace each year.
“Neospazialismo Numerico” — Contemporary Art Dialogue
Alongside the book festival, Chiara co-curated an exhibition exploring numeric neospatialism, featuring artists such as Florin Codre, Rosa Mundi, and Giorgio Piccaia. Works delving into the intersection of mathematics, philosophy, and visual expression brought new aesthetic dimensions to the historic palace walls.
“Orbiting Moon” — Spring Art Exhibition
In conjunction with the Venice Biennale Architettura, the foundation presented Orbiting Moon with sculptural, photographic, and painterly works focused on the theme of the moon — an event that blended contemporary creativity with Venice’s timeless allure.
Ballo Dalle Rose — Carnival Revival
Palazzo Donà dalle Rose becomes the setting for Ballo Dalle Rose, a refined masked Gala blending Renaissance dance, live music, and fine cuisine within a candlelit palace experience — a breathtaking way to relive Venice’s Carnival traditions.
The Countess’s Broader Cultural Involvements
Beyond Venice, Chiara is deeply engaged in the global arts sphere:
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Founder and President of BIAS — the Biennale of International Contemporary Sacred Art, the world’s first biennial organized by spiritual pavilions, integrating contemporary art with contemplative themes.
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Contributor to World International Sicilian Heritage (WISH) — preserving Sicilian artistic and architectural legacy.
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Participant in Venice Biennale curatorial and legal roles, including managing national pavilions and collaborative exhibitions.
Her professional life also spans academia, law (including art, copyright, and human rights law), and creative writing — ranging from legal texts to dramatic and theatrical works.
A Venetian Insider: Experiencing Venice Through Art and Heritage
For Countess Chiara, being a true insider in Venice is about experiencing the city beyond its tourist façades — through its palaces, archives, artistic dialogues, and cultural rituals. She believes that Venice’s living heritage is best understood not just by seeing its iconic canals and bridges, but by engaging with its creative communities, hidden exhibitions, and intimate cultural conversations, many of which she initiates or hosts at Palazzo Donà dalle Rose.
Legacy and Ongoing Vision
Countess Chiara Modica Donà dalle Rose has woven her family’s aristocratic legacy into a modern cultural mission: preserving history while fostering new artistic expressions, hosting global dialogues, and bringing audiences into the living spirit of Venice. Through her foundation and the palazzo’s events, she invites the world to see Venice not merely as a postcard image but as a vibrant cultural crossroads where heritage and innovation meet.
