San Polo
Scuola Grande San Giovanni
Home to fragments of the True Cross
Beautifully preserved confraternity building known for its richly decorated Chapter Hall, precious fragments of the True Cross, and atmospheric candlelight concerts.
San Tomà + 7-min walk
www.scuolasangiovanni.it
+39 041 718158
Admission: €10. Free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult.
Additional resources
What makes this place special
The remarkable Chapter Hall
The heart of the Scuola is a grand, light-filled hall decorated with paintings on the walls and ceiling depicting episodes from the life of St John the Evangelist, the Scuola's patron saint.
Fragments of the True Cross
In 1369, the Scuola came into possession of two fragments of the Cross on which Jesus died. Preserved here ever since, they can still be seen in the reliquary in the Oratory of the Cross.
Miracles of the True Cross
The Scuola's possession of the relic inspired a remarkable cycle of eight paintings commissioned from some of the leading Venetian Renaissance artists of the 15th century. After the Napoleonic occupation, the paintings became state property and were eventually moved to the Accademia Galleries, where you can see them today. The Scuola displays photographic reproductions in their place.
Marks left by the great floods
In the Hall of Columns, you can see marks showing historic tide levels, including the record acqua alta of 1966. The flood was so severe that it led to the installation of a new raised floor.
A beautifully curated visit
The Scuola offers a polished, thoughtfully presented visitor experience, complete with a modern bookshop and carefully curated rooms.
The lesser-known church
Your visit also includes the adjoining Church of San Giovanni Evangelista. Its peaceful interior and collection of artworks make it a lovely addition, especially if you enjoy discovering quieter corners of Venice.
Discover more about Scuola Grande San Giovanni through 34 photos with explanations.
Open galleryWhat to experience here
- Stand beneath the richly decorated ceiling of the remarkable Chapter Hall.
- See fragments of the True Cross preserved in the Scuola's reliquary.
- See glimpses of 15th-century Venice through the eyes of the painters who created the Miracles of the True Cross cycle.
- Notice the marks left by Venice's record-breaking 1966 high tide.
- Step inside the peaceful Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, easily missed by visitors.
- Experience the Scuola's atmospheric candlelight concerts when available.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on site or booked online in advance.
While advance booking isn't usually necessary here, online tickets let you skip the ticket queue and head straight inside.
Guided tour
The Scuola also offers guided tours of the entire complex.
It’s a great opportunity to discover its history, artistic details, and architectural peculiarities, while gaining a better understanding of the other Scuole Grandi in Venice as well.
Tours last 1½ hours, cost €20, and can be booked by email.
Still undecided whether to go?
You can also explore the Scuola through the virtual tour on its official website.
Besides explanatory videos, one of the most interesting features is the time-travel function, which offers 3D reconstructions of the rooms during flooding, along with information about Venice's tides.
Miracles of the True Cross
The Miracles of the True Cross painting cycle is one of the highlights of the Scuola's history, and you can see smaller-scale photographic reproductions of the originals in the Chancellery.
The story behind the paintings goes back to 1369, when Philippe de Mézières, Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Cyprus, donated two fragments of the True Cross to the Scuola.
The relic was considered so precious that the Scuola commissioned a series of paintings celebrating miracles associated with the arrival of the Cross fragments in Venice.
Eight paintings were created in the late 15th century by some of the finest Venetian painters of the time.
Together, they tell stories of miraculous events surrounding the relic while offering glimpses of Venice as it appeared to Renaissance artists.
Even though the original paintings are now at the Accademia Galleries, the setting of the Scuola's Chancellery is perfect for taking in the entire cycle at a glance.
Compare the Venice you see in the paintings with the city outside. The Rialto Bridge, for example, was still a wooden bridge at the time.
The single-arch stone bridge you see today replaced it a few years later, in 1591.
Elsewhere, though, the changes can be surprisingly subtle: the golden mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica are still shimmering today, much as they did for the painters of the 15th century.
If you enjoy seeing Venice through the eyes of past painters, another place worth visiting is the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, where Gabriel Bella's 60 canvases offer a vivid glimpse into public life in 18th-century Venice.
What to see nearby
These attractions are within walking distance of Scuola Grande San Giovanni:
super close
Creature di Gomma
tops 5 mins
Frari Basilica
tops 5 mins
Da Vinci Interactive Museum
tops 5 mins
San Rocco
tops 5 mins
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
tops 5 mins
Campo San Giacomo
5-10 min away
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