location
The Island
The Island of San Giorgio Maggiore is a great testimonial to central moments in the history of Italian art and architecture. The cultural centres based on the Island render it an important cultural reference point at an international level. These centres develop research projects and permanent activities of a social, educational, cultural and artistic character. The Island’s facilities host the conferences and congresses of qualified scientific and cultural organisations from Italy and abroad, offering them an unparalleled urban and monumental context for their work.
The Island boasts an ancient Benedictine monastery with cloisters and gardens; a beautiful Palladian church; an ancient library; a theatre dedicated to shows of music and dance, surrounded by a large park; and a small harbour. Together these elements make the Island a pleasant and suitable setting both for cultural, communications and leisure activities.
Today the Island is maintained by the Giorgio Cini Foundation, which rescued and restored it after it had suffered its period of greatest decline at the hands of Napoleon, its architectural treasures haphazardly divided and in disrepair, and later under the domination of the Austrians who left the Island cluttered with sheds, huts and other utilitarian structures. The church was reopened in 1808 and from 1829 the island became a free port after the construction of two Istrian-stone lighthouses.
The Church
The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the most impressive Venetian buildings by Andrea Palladio. The design for the facade was completed in 1566, but with his death in 1580, work was only started in 1597 and concluded in 1610.
Palladio believed that white was the colour most pleasing to God, and the overall effect both inside and out is of impressive luminosity and harmony, decoration being confined to a minimum. The church is dedicated to St. George and St. Stephen (the mortal remains of the latter are conserved in the church) and houses many masterpieces of the Venetian Renaissance. The aisles contain sepulchral monuments to doges and other dignitaries and the paintings include masterpieces such as The Last Supper and The Fall of Manna by Jacopo Tintoretto, and other canvases by Domenico Tintoretto, Jacopo Bassano, Palma il Giovane and Sebastiano Ricci. In the upper chapel hangs a painting by Carpaccio representing St. George slaying the dragon.
The lift to the top of the bell tower is operated by one of the monks, and admission is € 3,00. The view of Venice is extraordinary and on a clear day you can see the mountains beyond, as well as the cloisters and gardens of the monastery on the Island below.
Open all day : 9.30 -12.30, 14.30 -18.30.
How to reach the ICCG?