Your academic island in Venice

Only an 8-min regular waterbus ride from San Marco lies the Island of San Servolo, an academic island, and venue of all Advanced Courses of the NSAS.

It is composed of a large architectural complex and a lovely park.  With its beautiful courtyards and outdoor spaces, the monumental complex offers a spectacular natural and architectural staging, for your study retreat in the most beautiful city in the world. The splendid terrace offers a breathtaking view of San Marco’s Basin, providing a one-of-a-kind backdrop and delightful corners of the park are welcoming and relaxing places with panoramic views of the Basin stretching from the Giudecca to the Giardini della Biennale and all the way to the lagoon’s inlet.

The Island of San Servolo

History Its first settlement dates back to the 17th century when a group of Benedictine monks took refuge on the narrow and marshy island. In 1647, the complex was given to a group of Benedictine, Dominican and Franciscan nuns from the island of Candia. Next, the Senate of the Venetian Republic decided to use the Island of San Servolo to house the many injured who fled the clashes with the Turks. Medical services were provided by the Padri Ospedalieri di San Giovanni di Dio, now known as Fatebenefratelli. From that time on, the island’s history became closely linked with the authorities’ attitude toward disabling illnesses in general, and mental illness in particular: it housed psychiatric patients until the hospital’s closing in 1978.

The Park The park has been developed over the centuries to become one of the largest in Venice. It is an integral part of the Island of San Servolo and it is unique in the presence of some very old trees. In addition to the Canary Island date palm, which visitors see when they first arrive on the island, there are also large American aloe plants, lindens, hackberries (known as “splitting stones”), hybrid plane trees, Japanese pagoda trees, tall Alep pines, the centuries-old olive trees, and ailanthus, interspersed with large butter brush shrubs.