One of the most important attractions in Venice’s San Polo sestiere (district), the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista was originally established in the church of San Aponal in 1261, but moved to its present location in 1307. The best way to visit is by joining a San Polo walking tour that includes skip-the-line tickets to the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista complex, as well as the nearby Scuola Grande di San Rocco and other district highlights such as St. Mary of the Friars, San Giacomo di Rialto, and Campo San Polo.
To get to the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, cross the Rialto Bridge from the San Marco side of the Grand Canal, or take the water bus (vaporetto) to the San Tomà stop.
The Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista hosts a number of private events, during which the complex is closed to visitors; confirm opening dates and times in advance. The complex is located in an area of Venice that is often hit by flooding during high tides (aqua alta), and closes when water levels reach 40 inches (100 cm) above sea level.
The Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Battista was one of Venice’s many Scuole Grandi established by religious confraternities primarily for charitable purposes. Palaces of the Scuole Grandi typically include a large hall on the main floor and smaller but no less ornate meeting rooms on the upper floor, and the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Battista complex includes the palace, adjacent church, and two courtyards. Interiors are decorated with masterpieces by Venetian artists including Palma Giovane, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, and Longhi. In addition, visitors can see the 14th-century Venetian Gothic reliquary containing two fragments of the True Cross, the palace’s magnificent marble floors, the Hall of Columns, the grand staircase, and the 15th-century marble septum by Pietro Lombardo.
