San Giorgio Maggiore: Palladio across the water
Across the basin from St Mark's, on an island of its own, stands the white front of San Giorgio Maggiore, Andrea Palladio's great church. Behind it the old Benedictine monastery, now the Giorgio Cini Foundation, keeps its cloisters, its library and a maze of hedges.
- Admission
- Free
- Open
- Church daily, 9:00 to 18:00
- Closed
- Cini Foundation: Wednesdays
- Allow
- 1 to 2 hours
Venice this week
What to see at San Giorgio Maggiore
Palladio's church
The white front of classical columns, and inside a bright, calm space of stone and plaster.
Tintoretto's Last Supper
One of his last paintings, a Last Supper seen at an angle, lit by a lamp and by angels, in the chancel.
The Cini Foundation
The cloisters by Palladio and Buora, Longhena's staircase and library, seen on a guided visit.
The view
St Mark's and the Doge's Palace seen across the water from the island's quay.
Tickets and tours for San Giorgio Maggiore
Sold by GetYourGuide
Venice: Explore San Giorgio Island with Ticket & Audio Guide
A visit to the Giorgio Cini Foundation on San Giorgio, its cloisters, library and gardens, with a video guide.
Included
- A visit to the Giorgio Cini Foundation
- A video guide
More tickets and tours in Venice
Visiting San Giorgio Maggiore: hours and admission
Opening hours
- The church, every day
- 9:00 to 18:00
- The bell tower was closed for works on the day of checking, with no date to reopen.
- The Giorgio Cini Foundation is seen only on guided visits at set times, every day but Wednesday.
Who gets in free
- The church is free to enter.
Getting there
- Vaporetto
- San Giorgio, on line 2, a minute away, one stop from San Zaccaria.
- On foot
- There is no bridge: the island is reached only by boat.
- From the station
- Venice has no cars. From Santa Lucia station or Piazzale Roma, take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal, or walk: the city is small, but its lanes wind.
Address
San Giorgio MaggioreIsola di San Giorgio Maggiore
30133 Venice, Italy
Entrances
The church faces the quay. Visits to the Cini Foundation start from its ticket point beside the church.
On the map
Before you go
- Vaporetto line 2 stops at San Giorgio, two minutes from San Zaccaria.
- The church is free to enter. The bell tower was closed for works on the day of checking.
- The Cini Foundation is open only by guided visit, and closed on Wednesdays.
Palladio's church and the Cini Foundation
Benedictine monks have lived on the island since 982. In 1566 they asked Palladio for a new church, and he gave them a front of classical temples and an interior of white stone and light, finished after his death.
Napoleon closed the monastery. In 1951 Count Vittorio Cini restored it in memory of his son and gave it to the foundation that bears his son's name, a centre for the study of Venetian art and culture.
San Giorgio Maggiore: common questions
- What are the opening hours of San Giorgio Maggiore?
- The church, every day: 9:00 to 18:00. The bell tower was closed for works on the day of checking, with no date to reopen. The Giorgio Cini Foundation is seen only on guided visits at set times, every day but Wednesday.
- What does the tour include?
- A visit to the Giorgio Cini Foundation. A video guide. It is sold by GetYourGuide.
- How do you get to San Giorgio Maggiore?
- By vaporetto line 2, one stop from San Zaccaria, by St Mark's.
- Is San Giorgio Maggiore free?
- The church is. The Giorgio Cini Foundation next door is seen on a paid guided visit.
What visitors say about San Giorgio Maggiore
Rating from Google
More to see in Venice
Doge's Palace
St Mark's Basilica
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
St Mark's Campanile
Basilica dei Frari
Teatro La Fenice
Ca' Pesaro
Things to do near San Giorgio Maggiore
The nearest of this site's best things to do in the city. Distances are in a straight line.
- 16Hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons in a Venetian church600 m awayShow, 1.3 to 1.5 hours, concert ticket
- 1Walk through the Doge's Palace and over the Bridge of Sighs600 m awayMuseum, 2 to 3 hours, ticket
- 4Ride up St Mark's Campanile for the view over the lagoon700 m awayMonument, 30 to 45 minutes, ticket with a time
- 2Stand under the golden domes of St Mark's Basilica700 m awayChurch, 45 to 90 minutes, ticket with a time, sold by the basilica
Where to eat near San Giorgio Maggiore
The nearest of the famous tables this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Harry's Bar3.6Bar and restaurant, Calle Vallaresso650 m away
- Al Covo4.5Restaurant, Castello650 m away
- Caffè Florian3.8Café, St Mark's Square700 m away
- Gran Caffè Lavena2.6Café, St Mark's Square750 m away
Hotels near San Giorgio Maggiore
The five-star hotels closest to it, of those this site lists in Venice. Distances are in a straight line.
- Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel4.7Five-star hotel, Giudecca350 m away
- Hotel Londra Palace4.7Five-star hotel, Riva degli Schiavoni600 m away
- Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel4.5Five-star hotel, Riva degli Schiavoni600 m away
- The St. Regis Venice4.6Five-star hotel, Grand Canal750 m away