The island of San Servolo

Venice and its islands (Benedetto Bondone, 1528)

The island of San Servolo is located in the Venetian lagoon, between Venice city center and the island of Lido (see aerial views). It takes 10 minutes by boat to reach Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice, 20 minutes to reach Venice International airport Marco Polo. The public transportation boats run hourly (check the vaporetti timetable; see also how to get San Servolo).
The island was originally the home of the Venetian Calbana family who, beginning in 810, hosted the seat of a Benedictine Monastery. The buildings of the island have been developed and changed over the ages along with the people who inhabited it. San Servolo remained a monastery until the mid-eighteenth century when it was transformed into a Hospital. The island overlooks the tranquil waters of the lagoon, and covers an area of over sixteen-thousand square meters that were once used for vineyards and gardens.

San Servolo is an oasis in a unique urban setting. Students can study, work, and relax in a peaceful park spread across 12 scenic acres with a panoramic view of Venice. In addition to this, students will have an extraordinary opportunity to study under conditions that are significantly different from their normal day-to-day studying environment. Professors, scholars and students from all over the world will be given the chance to interact and to share their experiences and knowledge.

Renovation

The restoration work of the monumental complex on the Island of San Servolo started a few years ago and maintains the architectural qualities and  natural landscape of the setting. Following completion of the first part of restoration in the spring of 1997, VIU has had access to use of facilities on the island for conferences and seminar courses. The first semester of the academic year 1997/98 marks the beginning of VIU’s undergraduate activities along with the complete restoration of the monumental complex and a 40 bed residential hall. All successive renovation will be complete by the end of 1999.

Area

The total surface of the island is 48,260 sq. m (about 12 acres). One fifth of the area is covered by buildings (for a total of about 10.000 sq. m and a usable building area of more than 18,000 sq. m - 200,000 sq. ft) surrounded by an extensive park.

Individual buildings (see enclosed aerial photographic map)

Monumental complex:
covered area 4,937 sq. m (53,141 sq. ft)
total usable building area 9,665 sq. m (104,033 sq. ft)
1) Entrance, Hall and General Services
2) Former Clinic
3) Former Nunnery
Museum
4) Church
5-6) "Manica Lunga"
7) "Southern Wing"
8) Old Theater
9) "Austrian Wing"
10) Neogothic Tower

Other buildings:
covered area 4,840 sq. m (52,097 sq. ft)
total usable building area 8,976 sq. m (96,617 sq. ft)
11) Semicircular Building
12) Central Building
13) Residential Hall
14-15) Former granary, incinerator etc.
16) Old Workshops
18) Former Clinic and "Casetta"