This building, which used to be a, Benedictine monastery, stands next to the famous church of San Giorgio Maggiore. After the death of Count Cini in 1949 in a plane crash, the foundation was established to firstly rebuild the convent destroyed by Napoleon’s forces, and secondly, to form an cultural archive of Venice’s history. Its library now holds thousands of book, manuscripts and documents on history, music, theatre and art. It is home to the School of San Giorgio for the Study of Venetian Civilisation. The foundation is also the meeting place for world leaders; the G7 summit was held here; and world leaders often stay in La Foresteria.

Tours of the foundation usually cover:

• The New Manica Lunga
• The Renaissance Cypress Cloister
• The 17th century Palladian Cloister
• 16th century Palladian Cenacle
• 17th century grand staircase by Longhena
• The Borges garden maze

• The foundation can only be visited by guided tour.

• Closed on specific dates in the year; please check the attraction website.
• Open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays only; weekday visits are only for groups of minimum 12 and only by prior reservation.
• Italian Guided Tours: 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.
• English/French guided tours: 11pm, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm.
• In winter, the last English/French guided tour is at 3pm.

• EUR 8 for Over 65,under 18s, undergraduates, military personnel.
• Free for under 14s
• There are group tickets too.

• Waterbus Line 2 stop Isola di San Giorgio.

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