Overview
A little island which is part of the sestiere of San Marco situated in front of St Mark’s Square.
Known as the island of cypresses, around the year 982 the Monastery of San Giorgio was founded there, when the Doge Tribuno Memmo donated the entire island to the Benedictine monk, Giovanni Morosini, who drained the marshes to obtain the land on which to build the monastery.
The majestic facade of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Andrea Palladio, bears witness to the cultural importance achieved by the monastery over the centuries.
The church houses works by several masters, including Tintoretto, Carpaccio, and Bassano.
Today the island is the center of the Cini Foundation, a former Benedictine convent which has become a monumental complex comprised of the Palladian cloister and cenacle, the labyrinth of Borges, and the Cypress Woods, in addition to the library, an art gallery, a musical theater overlooking the lagoon, and a new permanent exhibition space "The glass rooms" which host dedicated exhibitions. There is also a new refreshment area, the San Giorgio Cafè, run by the famous Palermo-born chef Filippo LaMantia.
