Located on an island in St Mark’s Basin, just a stone’s throw from St Mark’s Square, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore (St George the Great) is one of the most impressive examples of Renaissance architecture you’ll find anywhere in the striking city of Venice.
Designed by Italian architectural master Andrea Palladio, the church dates all the way back to the early 15th century and is admired by Renaissance scholars and lovers across the world for its marble façade and tall symmetrical columns—a classic piece of its time. Step inside the building and you’re immediately struck by the light shining through windows, which are modelled on those typically found in old Roman bath houses, illuminating the high arches circling the church.
Proudly displayed on the church walls are paintings immediately recognisable to the Renaissance art aficionados who flock here. Among them you’ll be able to spot Jacopo Bassano’s Adoration of the Shepherds as well as Tintoretto’s The Last Supper and Shower of Manna from Heaven.
With the church’s prime location on an island cut off from the heart of town, you can even enjoy a remarkable view of Venice in all its glory from its bell tower. Take the elevator to the campanile and you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the cityscape marked by the famed St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
Set in picturesque surroundings, the small harbour alongside the church affords another great photo opportunity well worth capturing. The church opens every day, and on Sunday you can attend mass. Entry is free, but you’ll have to pay a small charge to enter the campanile.
You can reach the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore by taking Line 2 of the vaporetto (water bus) from the San Zaccaria dock just to the east of St Mark’s Square. The voyage across the bay should take no more than a few minutes, and 45 minutes on the island should give you enough time to have a good look around the church.
