The Venice Biennale is proving a hit with art lovers, drawing almost 2,000 visitors a day since it opened last month.
Founded in 1895 and held every two years, the Biennale is the oldest and possibly best known international contemporary art event.
The 52nd edition opened in the northern lagoon city on June 10 and will run until November 21.
Organisers said 42,800 people had so far been to visit, an increase of 20% over the previous edition in 2005.
A total of 77 nations are taking part in the huge fair, each with an individual exhibition site or Padiglione (Pavilion) at their disposal.
Mexico has made its Biennale debut while Africa has its first ever main venue Padiglione, although the space represents art for the entire continent.
It is also the first time the Biennale has an American director, Robert Storr, who is a former curator of New York's Museum of Modern Art.
Artists taking part include Britain's Tracey Emin, who has stirred controversy with works dealing with child abuse and abortion; America's Emily Prince, whose artwork features hand-drawn portraits of more than 3,500 US soldiers killed in Iraq; and France's Sophie Calle, whose multimedia installation documents her mother's last moments of life.
During the event's opening ceremony, two artists were honoured with the prestigious Biennale Golden Lion Award: Americans Richard Serra and Cy Twombly.
The Biennale also includes sideline shows of major artists including Joseph Beuys and Emilio Vedova.
