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The Island of San Servolo
The island of San Servolo is located in the Venetian lagoon, between Venice city center and the island of Lido. It takes 10 minutes by boat to reach Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice.
The island was originally the home of the Venetian Calbana family who, beginning in 810, hosted the seat of a Benedictine Monastery. The buildings of the island have been developed and changed over the ages along with the people who inhabited it. San Servolo remained a monastery until the mid-eighteenth century when it was transformed into a Hospital. The island overlooks the tranquil waters of the lagoon, and covers an area of over sixteen-thousand square meters that were once used for vineyards and gardens.
San Servolo is an oasis in a unique urban setting. Students can study, work, and relax in a peaceful park spread across 12 scenic acres with a panoramic view of Venice. In addition to this, students will have an extraordinary opportunity to study under conditions that are significantly different from their normal day-to-day studying environment. Professors, scholars and students from all over the world will be given the chance to interact and to share their experiences and knowledge.
Renovation
The restoration work of the monumental complex on the Island of San Servolo started a few years ago and maintains the architectural qualities and natural landscape of the setting. Following completion of the first part of restoration in the spring of 1997, VIU has had access to use of facilities on the island for conferences and seminar courses.The first semester of the academic year 1997/98 marked the beginning of VIU's undergraduate activities along with the complete restoration of the monumental complex and a 40 bed residential hall. All successive renovation was completed and the island was inaugurated and opened to the public in March 2004.
