 Introduction
The interior of the church was re-designed by Palladio with clean, whitewashed surfaces. This makes the church very bright and still exhibits a Classical feel of a Renaissance design. The interior plan is original in combining the central plan of classical tradition with the cruciform plan. The dome divides both the church axis in two equal parts, with the longitudinal longer than the transversal.
The main altar is flanked by two epic paintings by an elderly Manna di Tintoretto. "The Fall of Manna" is to the left and the well-known "Last Supper" is to the right. The choir leads to the Cappella dei Morti (Chapel of the Dead) where visitors can see Tintoretto's "Deposition". Beside the central portal, there are the statues of St George and Saint Stephen, to whom the church is also consecrated. To the left of the choir there is an elevator to the top of the campanile. For a fee of 3 euros, visitors can experience a view of the island, the lagoon, and the Palazzo Ducale and Piazza San Marco.
A few remaining Benedictine monks gather at the church every Sunday Mass at 11am to sing a Gregorian chant. This is also the site of the Cini Foundation arts centre, known for its library and Teatro Verde open-air theater. Admission is free and it is open from Monday till Saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm, and 2pm-6pm.
History
In the early nineteenth century, after the Republic fall, the monastery was almost suppressed and the island became a free port with a new harbor built in 1812. It was used to house Venice's artillery. During this time, many of the wells were sold or stolen. Only a few monks remained to officiate the church. In 1951 the Italian Government granted the monastery to the Cini Foundation, which restored it and revived its cultural tradition.
Location
To reach the island, take the Giudecca-bound vaporetto (no. 82) on Riva degli Schiavoni and get off at the 1st stop, named the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Address:
Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore
Venice, Italy
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Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
