The waters of St. Mark's Basin mirror the majesty and splendour of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore. Situated directly opposite the Doge Palace (Palazzo Ducale), it has enjoyed periods of wealth and prosperity as well as survived every sort of trial and tribulation. This stately monastery spans the entire history of Venice, from her origins to her fall. In fact, it can be said that it began with Venice and ended with her.
Without a doubt, this monumental complex is among the most important in the world--for its vastness as well as its artistic value. The Benedictine Abbey, demolished and reconstructed five times before assuming its present state of grandeur, has been, for a millennium, not only a spiritual centre, but a cultural one as well. The steadfastness and peaceful activities of the monks have succeeded for centuries, slowly but progressively enriching those rooms that hosted famous and Socratic discourse. No celebrated person during the history of the Serenissima could resist passing some contemplative time meditating within the walls of the silent cloisters, nor was there an illustrious visitor who didn't submit to the charm of the stoned refuge amidst water and sky.
With the arrival of Napoleon and the fall of the Venetian Republic, the monastery lost its privileges and was transformed into a prison and armoury. It remained this way for well over a hundred years, under French, Austrian, and finally, Italian rule. A quote from the chronicles of a monk during that time reads, "The Italian government does not recognise the Monks' Hospice, but for the maintenance and administration of the Temple (church), it appoints a Rector. In this manner, the island, with its grand and splendid halls, with its abundance of artistic and literary works collected by her monks, is no more. And among all these things, progress, in her generosity, leaves us only the memory of having had them among us."
After the second world war, San Giorgio Maggiore was offered as a grant to the Cini Foundation, which undertook the necessary work to restore some of the island's lost dignity. The presence of this prestigious organisation has made it possible for the island to re-establish a leading role as a renowned centre for international culture.