San Giorgio Maggiore Island

Must-see attractions nearby: St Marks Square Doges Palace Colleoni Monument Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Basilica of St Mark Academy of Fine Arts Rialto Bridge

San Giorgio Maggiore was built on the site of the old church. After the Second World War the buildings on the island became increasingly dilapidated until finally the Italian industrialist Vittorio Cini established the Giorgio Cini Foundation in memory of his son Giorgio. This foundation financed restoration of the dilapidated and decaying buildings and built an International Center of Art and Culture with 30 auditoria, a cinema, an open-air theater and a naval college.

In 1980 the Western Heads of State met on San Giorgio Maggiore for the famous Venice Economic Summit Conference.