Art in Venice’s Scuole

Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.

Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.

Founded in 1261, the oldest scuola grande has a beautiful carved portal by Pietro Lombardo. Climb Mauro Codusso’s superb double ramp staircase to see the upper rooms decorated by Tiepolo’s son Giandomenico and others. The best paintings originally commissioned from Carpaccio and Bellini are now in the Accademia.

This Renaissance confection built in 1495 is partly occupied by a hospital, but several restored rooms are open to the public. The facade sports trompe-l’oeil panels and the chapter house has a fabulous gilded coffered ceiling and houses cases containing ancient manuscripts and historical hospital records.

The richest of the six Scuole Grandi, San Rocco commissioned Tintoretto to decorate its headquarters in 1564: he spent 23 years on his masterwork resulting in fabulous paintings filling walls and ceilings such as the Crucifixion, Annunciation and Flight into Egypt.

The jewelbox-like Scuola Grande of St George of the Slaves houses one of Vittore Carpaccio’s best known painting cycles, illustrating the lives of saints George, Tryphone and Jerome (1502). These delightful, colourful works are full of vivid detail such as the little dog in St Augustine’s study.

Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.