Special Opening Nights of the Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo and Scuola Grande di San Marco.

12 August 2021

Venice, 11 August 2021- The Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo and the Scuola Grande di San Marco open their doors even during the night to celebrate the 1600th anniversary from the foundation of Venice in order to recreate the ancient bond between believers and the lay members of the charity associations of Venice. On Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August, the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the Scuola Grande di San Marco Museum complex open their doors to the public with new original proposals and themed tours to  celebrate the anniversary of Venice. 

On the occasion of the religious celebration of the “Assunta”, the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the major confraternity Scuola Grande di San Marco celebrate this major anniversary with two days of special night openings. This initiative has the purpose to let people experience the whole magic of the place called by Venetians “Campo delle Meravegie”, that means a small place which encloses lots of treasures : the fifteenth-century bronze equestrian statue by the artist Andrea del Verrocchio, portraying Bartolomeo Colleoni, the famous captain that served the Serenissima in the fifteenth century, The Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, known as the Pantheon due to its size and the number of Doges that are buried inside it, and the Scuola Grande di San Marco with its Renaissance façade and all the treasures kept inside it. 

Two nights under the moonlight to discover and investigate, with some volunteer tour guides, the relationship between the Dominican order and the most famous and majestic confraternity of Venice: The Scuola Grande di San Marco. The guided tours will start from the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo before proceeding to the Scuola di San Marco. First turn to visit at 20.00, second round of visit 21.00. For further information and reservations please write to visite@santigiovanniepaolo.it 

The initiatives organised by Dominican monks will continue in the coming months: Saturday 11 September and Saturday 9 October at 15.00, two more guided tours to the Scuola and the Basilica are planned, reservation is always required.