Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore: Tintoretto and Panoramic Bell Tower

Leave the crowds of St. Mark’s Square behind and take the vaporetto to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. In just a few minutes, you’ll find yourself in another world, just steps away from the hustle and bustle yet suspended between water and sky. Palladio’s white basilica welcomes you with its solemn façade, almost like a classical temple overlooking the basin. Step inside to discover Tintoretto’s later masterpieces, then climb the bell tower: from up there, Venice is all yours, with the lagoon stretching to the horizon. An experience combining art, history, and views – it’s hard to ask for more.

The island has been inhabited by the Benedictines since 982, when Doge Tribuno Memmo donated it to the monk Giovanni Morosini. The first church was medieval, but in the 16th century the monks called Andrea Palladio to build the refectory (1560–63) and then the new basilica. The first stone was laid in 1566, the dome in 1576, but the facade was completed only in 1610 by Vincenzo Scamozzi, thirty years after the master’s death. The current bell tower, 75 meters high, dates from 1791, designed by Benedetto Buratti after the collapse of the 15th-century one. A construction site that lasted almost a century, which gave Venice one of its Renaissance jewels.

• 982 – Donation of the island to the Benedictines
• 1566 – Start of construction of the Palladian church
• 1576 – Completion of the dome
• 1591 – Completion of the choir
• 1610 – Facade completed by Scamozzi
• 1791 – New bell tower (Benedetto Buratti)

The interior of the basilica is a triumph of balance and light. Palladio combined a central plan and a Latin cross, with a barrel-vaulted nave and a dome on a drum. The half-columns and pillars create a strong verticality, while the white plaster enhances the artworks. At the center of the presbytery dominate two canvases by Jacopo Tintoretto: the Last Supper and the Gathering of the Manna, painted between 1592 and 1594. In the Chapel of the Dead, the Deposition (also by Tintoretto) portrays him as Joseph of Arimathea. Don’t miss the Madonna and Child with Saints by Sebastiano Ricci (1708) and the inlaid wooden choir by Albert Van der Brulle, with scenes from the life of Saint Benedict.

At 75 meters, the bell tower of San Giorgio is the fourth tallest in Venice. The novelty? You take the elevator: no effort, just a view. From the belfry, your gaze sweeps across the entire city: St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, Punta della Dogana, Giudecca, and on clear days, the Euganean Hills and even the Dolomites. It’s the perfect spot for a souvenir photo with St. Mark’s Basilica behind you. The ticket costs €6 (reduced €4 for students and over 65) and the climb is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 7:00 PM in summer). Advice? Go in the late afternoon, when the golden light brings the buildings to life.

Three good reasons not to skip San Giorgio Maggiore. First: the Tintorettos. Few know that here you’ll find his last works, intense and dramatic, to admire without the crowds. Second: the silence. Unlike St. Mark’s, an almost cloistered atmosphere reigns here, perfect for savoring art in peace. Third: the view. The bell tower offers a 360° panorama of Venice and the lagoon, much wider than that from St. Mark’s campanile (and with shorter queues). Plus, the island houses the Giorgio Cini Foundation, with cloisters, libraries, and temporary exhibitions: a whole day could fly by.

If you love the soft light of sunset, late afternoon is the best time. The low sun lights up the marble facade and tints the lagoon gold, while the tourist crowds thin out. In spring and autumn, the days are cool and clear, ideal for the view from the bell tower. In winter, with the crisp air, you can see the mountains on the horizon. Avoid the midday hours in summer, when the sun is strong and the light is too harsh for photos. Early morning, on the other hand, the island is almost deserted and offers a magical silence, broken only by the call of seagulls.

The island of San Giorgio is not just a basilica. Right next door, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini complex is worth a visit: admire Palladio’s Cloister, the Palladian Refectory (where Veronese’s Wedding at Cana once hung, now in the Louvre) and Longhena’s Grand Staircase. If you love contemporary art, don’t miss Le Stanze del Vetro, an exhibition space dedicated to Murano glass, with always interesting shows. And for a bucolic touch, stroll through the garden of the Vatican Chapels, ten small architectural designs from around the world. Before leaving, stop at the Green Theatre, an open-air amphitheater overlooking the lagoon – sometimes there’s an impromptu concert.