Venezia's Historic Nicelli Airport Celebrates 100 Years with Exhibition
Italy's first civil airport, Nicelli Airport, located on Venice's Lido island, is marking its 100th anniversary with a special exhibition. The airport's first flight took place on August 18, 1926, linking Venice to Vienna via Klagenfurt, with Transadriatica's Junkers F.13, under the command of pilot Riccardo Pasquali. The centenary festivities will peak on August 14, 2026, featuring the exhibition "Cent'anni di aviazione. Aeroporto Nicelli 1926–2026," which will be open from August 15 to September 30, 2026, at no cost. Curated by Vittorio Baroni, the exhibit highlights aviation pioneers such as Renato Morandi and Giovanni Nicelli. In the 1930s, the airport served as a vital hub and became a base for Ala Littoria, with its terminal restored in 2007 to preserve its 1930s design.
Key facts
- The Nicelli Airport on the Lido of Venice is Italy's first civil airport, inaugurated in 1926.
- The first flight from Nicelli took off on August 18, 1926, connecting Venice to Vienna via Klagenfurt.
- The centenary exhibition 'Cent'anni di aviazione. Aeroporto Nicelli 1926–2026' opens on August 14, 2026, and runs from August 15 to September 30, 2026.
- The exhibition is curated by Vittorio Baroni and is structured like a film with twelve panels.
- Key figures featured include Renato Morandi, Hugo Junkers, Giovanni Nicelli, and Annita 'Yvonne' Girardello.
- During the 1930s, the Lido airport was the second most important in Italy and a major base for Ala Littoria.
- Commercial flights moved to Treviso in 1953 and then to Tessera in 1960.
- The airport terminal, restored in 2007, retains its 1930s architecture.
- The exhibition includes an image of Claudia Cardinale on a Fiat G.4.
- The airport is located at Via Renato Morandi 9, Lido di Venezia, and admission is free.
Entities
Artists
- Renato Morandi
- Hugo Junkers
- Giovanni Nicelli
- Annita 'Yvonne' Girardello
- Giorgio Cini
- Umberto Klinger
- Claudia Cardinale
- Vittorio Baroni
- Riccardo Pasquali
Institutions
- Nicelli Airport
- Transadriatica
- Ala Littoria
- Officine Aeronavali
- Aeroclub
- Venice Film Festival
- Biennale
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Lido
- Lido di Venezia
- Vienna
- Klagenfurt
- Rome
- Ancona
- Treviso
- Tessera