Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore

The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is part of a larger Benedictine monastery complex that had settled the island as early as 982 AD. Plans for enlarging and enhancing the buildings and church were carried out by Palladio from 1559 until his death. These were completed and added to by Baldassare Longhena. Cosimo I of Florence was given refuge here in 1433. The refectory was home to Veronese's grand "Marriage at Cana," now in the Louvre. The island now serves a variety of functions, mostly related to the arts, and since 1951 the majority of monastery buildings have been used by the Giorgio Cini Foundation. The church houses several important late works by Tintoretto.