San Giorgio Maggiore

Palladio began the church in 1566 on its own island across the basin from St Mark's, solving the problem of putting a classical temple front on a church with a tall nave and low aisles by overlapping two pediments of different sizes, a device widely copied afterwards. Inside are two late Tintorettos flanking the chancel, the Last Supper and the Gathering of Manna, painted in 1594. The campanile has a lift and gives the classic panorama of Venice, including a clear view of St Mark's Square that cannot be had from the Square's own tower. The Cini Foundation occupies the monastery buildings.

History

The island was probably occupied in Roman times and was later called Insula Memmia after the Memmo family who owned it, and by 829 it had a church of St George. In 982 the Benedictine monk Giovanni Morosini asked the doge Tribuno Memmo for the whole island, drained its marshes and founded the monastery, and Palladio's church was begun in 1566 (Wikipedia, San Giorgio Maggiore).

What to look for

• The overlapping pediments - Palladio's solution to a classical church front.
• The Tintorettos - two late canvases flanking the chancel.
• The campanile view - Venice seen with St Mark's in the frame, by lift.
• The Cini Foundation - a monastery converted to a cultural institute.

When to go

Year-round; the campanile has short queues compared with St Mark's. The church closes during services and for a midday break. Late afternoon light is best.

Before you go

The campanile lift can be closed for maintenance. The church closes at midday. Foundation buildings need separate booked tours.

Nearby

St Mark's lies across the basin; the Giudecca is west.