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Giorgio Cini Foundation Tours
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VeniceGiorgio Cini Foundation
Make the most of Venice
Why Visit Giorgio Cini Foundation?
- Artistic excellence: It is home to some of the finest collections of arts, books, and music. Its galleries and libraries are treasure troves that take visitors on a journey through centuries of artistic and intellectual creation.
- Unique architecture: The foundation's buildings offer a unique blend of monastic architecture and Renaissance design, against the idyllic Venetian setting.
- Music and performance: The foundation hosts the International Centre for the Study of the Sociology of Music, and its auditorium often serves as a platform for world-class concerts, lectures, and performances.
- Historical significance: The foundation's long-term research projects delve into Venetian history and culture, including the influential Vivaldi Project. These initiatives make it a hub for intellectual discourse and historical exploration.
- Gardens and labyrinths: The Borges Labyrinth and the Garden of Chapels embody a blend of art, nature, and spirituality, offering tranquil spaces for contemplation amid the hustle of Venice.
Explore the Giorgio Cini Foundation
The Garden with Vatican Chapels
Enter deep into the nearby woods to see the magnificent installation of the Vatican chapels. Nestled inside the forest, explore these thought-provoking, innovative, and marvelous structures created for the 2018’s Architecture Biennale. A 50-minute audio guide tour will take you through its inception complemented by an original soundtrack from Antonio Fresa.
Green Theatre
This 1950s open-air theatre commissioned by Cini and built by Luigi Vietti and Angelo Scattolin can hold 1484 spectators. It is modeled on open-air garden theatres that decked Venetian villas of the 18th century. The structure is made from recycled material left over from restoration projects on the island. Use your smartphone to access a life-like video artwork exhibiting the theatre’s extraordinary vitality through real footage and an original score.
What to See At Giorgio Cini Foundation?
The Palladian Cloister
The Palladian Cloister designed by Andrea Palladio is part of an overhaul of the monastery that Palladio designed back in 1560. He was appointed in 1579 to take charge of designing this magnificent structure. Discover how the architect studied and codified the orders of the columns, porticoes, and proportions; how the height, width, and numbers have all been carefully thought out. Witness how he uses twin ionic columns, rather than a single column, to create a sense of depth.
Borges Labyrinth
Explore the maze, Borges Labyrinth, built in 2011 as a tribute to Argentine writer, Jorge Luis Borges. Within this exquisite maze, 3,200 boxwood plants are artfully arranged following the visionary blueprint of architect Randoll Coate. Immerse yourself in the wonder of the Nuova Manica Lunga as you gaze upon the labyrinth from a bird's-eye view, and follow its winding paths, accompanied by an audio guide.
Nuova Manica Lunga Library
The Nuovo Manica Lunga library complex lies at the heart of the Giorgio Cini Foundation. Formerly, the dormitory of the Benedictine fathers, this exceptional space for research & study, was designed by Giovanni Buora. It holds literary resources and holds world-class international standards of library science. This architectural marvel was later redeveloped by the architect Michele De Lucchi. The result is an open-plan, expanse creating an ideal atmosphere for hosting scholars, providing them with necessary infrastructure & research materials.
Plan Your Visit to Giorgio Cini Foundation
Timings
Getting There
Facilities
Exhibitions
Tips
Eat
Stay
Nearby
10 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Sunday
Closed: Wednesday
Best Time to Visit: During spring or fall when the weather is pleasant, the city is less crowded with tourists and the Cini Foundation hosts major exhibitions and events
Address: Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, 30133 Venezia VE, Italy
Directions
- By Ferry: Vaporetto Line 2
Nearest Stop: S. Giorgio, 5 min walk
Take the ferry from San Zaccaria, which takes 3 min to reach S. Giorgio.
- Audio guides available with tickets
- Wheelchairs available for visitors with restricted mobility
- Informative plaques for visually-impaired visitors
- In-house cafe, a cozy place to unwind after sightseeing
Luciano Baldessari (Architecture per la scena): It documents how Luciano Baldessari's scenic eye "exploded" in the Berlin season of the 1920s and became a new way of looking at the world, and at architecture for the rest of his life.
Venue: At the Manica Lunga, from 05 May 2023 - 26 Nov 2023
- Please bring earphones with a jack cable for Android devices (it is an audio-guided tour)
- Borges Labyrinth is not accessible by wheelchairs
- If you plan to explore the garden with Chapels in summer, pack mosquito repellent
- Carry a hat and pack sunscreen for parts of the museum that are not in the shade
- Outside food & drinks are not allowed
- If you plan to do multiple tours, consider reserving a table for lunch at the island’s only bar and restaurant, the Cini Café
- Cini Café: The only cafe inside Cini Foundation, offers scenic views of St. Mark’s Basilica, 4 min away
- TEN Restaurant: Classic Italian dishes such as pasta, wood-fired pizzas paired with cocktails, 1 min away
- I figli delle stelle: Known for Venetian seafood specialties such as Grilled Squid, Tuscan prawns, and sunset views, 12 min away
- Taverna Dei Dogi: Another seafood haven, an excellent choice of wine, 14 min away
- Sandro: A small eatery for cold cuts, sandwiches, and fruit juices, 13 min away
- Murano: World-famous Venetian glass-making workshops dating back to the 13th century, 4.1 km away
- Basilica di San Marco: The Central Cathedral and the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice since 1807, 1.4 km away
- Palazzo Ducale: The palace residence of the Doge of Venice, one of the main landmarks of Venice built in 1340, 1.2 km away
- Gallerie dell’Accademia: An art museum housing pre-19th century art in Venice, 2.5 km away
- Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute: A Roman Catholic Church and basilica, locally known as Salute, 1.9 km away
Frequently Asked Questions About Giorgio Cini Foundation Tours
How much does Giorgio Cini Foundation tours cost?
The tours to Giorgio Cini Foundation start from €22. This includes a complete tour of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, Borges Labyrinth, Manica Lunga Library, and more.
How to book tours to the Giorgio Cini Foundation?
You can book tours to the Giorgio Cini Foundation online or at the venue. Online purchasing is easy and allows you to secure your slot on the day of your visit.
Why should I book Giorgio Cini Foundation tours online?
Visitors are recommended to book tours online as it offers guaranteed entry to all the highlights of the Giorgio Cini Foundation. Moreover, booking tours online reserve your entry, especially during the peak seasons when tickets get sold out fast.
What do Giorgio Cini Foundation Tours include?
Tours include a visit to the Longhena Staircase, the Palladio Cloister, the Buora Cloister, the Last Supper with the Wedding at Cana, the New Manica Lunga library, Vatican Chapels's installation, and the Green Theater.
Is Borges Labyrinth and Manica Lunga Library included with Giorgio Cini Foundation Tours?
Yes, both attractions are included in the audio-guided tours of the Giorgio Cini Foundation.
What is the cancelation policy for Giorgio Cini Foundation tours?
Visitors can cancel the tours up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Does Giorgio Cini Foundation tours have multi-lingual audio guides?
Yes, you can listen to audio guides that come in 5 languages.
What are the Giorgio Cini Foundation's opening hours?
The Giorgio Cini Foundation remains open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Sunday. Only closed on Wednesday.
How long does it take to complete Giorgio Cini Foundation Tour?
A complete tour of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, Borges Labyrinth, and Manica Lunga Library takes about 2-2.5 hours, with approximately 40 min dedicated to each landmark.
From the happy customers
Michelle
United Statesmay, 2025
The highlight of the tour was going up on the rooftop of the duomoand seeing the beautiful views of Milan. The tour of the inside of the church was interesting, but our guide was hard to understand at times and was fairly dry. Of course, the duomo is gorgeous and it was excellent to get more information about some of the details of the beautiful cathedral.
Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets
Jan
Polandmay, 2025
Incredible place. Worth every cent and every minute. I strongly recommend buying audio guide, give you a lot of great information.
Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets
Ilka-maria
may, 2025
Great experience beyond my expectation. Magnificent ceiling pictures in the Marcus duomo and great rooms in the Doge palace. Preparing with the tickets before the visit was the right thing to do.
St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tickets
Julie
United Kingdomabr, 2025
Saint Marks Basilica is absolutely stunning. I have been to Venice a few times but only for the Benalli and have never made it into this church. This time I brought my parents and we did the main sights.
It was incredibly busy though, I think the guided tour groups, should be limited to small grouos once in the church. There is just not the room for them.
Apart from them, it is absolutely breathtaking, the amount of workmanship and Craft that has gone into this building. Goodness knows how they keep it safe with that level of tourists every day.
We did book early, which is advisable as there were no tickets available once you had arrived in Venice.
The Doges Palace, had an untied ticket so we could make our own way there when we were ready which I thought was excellent. Once again, such a beautiful building, and very much worth a visit.
St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tickets
Sonia
Italyabr, 2025
Experience not to be missed. Breathtaking 360-degree views of Venice.
You can reach the panoramic terrace conveniently by elevator. Attention, bells are in operation..
View original review in Italian
Tickets to St. Mark’s Bell Tower
Janet
United Statesmar, 2025
+ 1 more
The craftsmanship that can never be replicated is mind boggling. Floors, ceilings and stutues. Would be incredible if the original plans exsisted. Not to be missed.
Doge’s Palace Tickets & 11-Museum Pass
Larysa
Ukrainemar, 2025
The best choice is to buy a subscription. The best Venice tours in your pocket without queues.
Everything is very simple and convenient.
I recommend
This review is translated. Show original review.
Doge’s Palace Tickets & 11-Museum Pass
Raffaella
mar, 2025
Everything went very well. I was a little worried because I was not familiar with this site and had read in a review that the tickets sold were not valid. Actually just follow the directions and go to pick up the physical tickets at a store near St. Mark's where they give out tickets with a QR code that is then scanned at the turnstiles and works perfectly. The audio guide must be downloaded to your phone. The advice is to download it outside St. Mark's because inside it does not pick up and you cannot use it. Tickets are purchased for a specific time but you can actually get in the entire hour before: our tickets for example were for 10:30 and we were able to validate them as early as 9:45, unexpectedly making up some time
View original review in Italian
St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide
Karin
feb, 2025
It would be good if the description was also in German. Then I would have understood better how to collect the tickets. But everything was also possible in English.
View original review in German
St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide
Nicola
United Kingdommar, 2025
Easy to book and then collect the tickets in Venice.
St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace were really worth the visit
Just make sure the audio guides are working whilst you are collecting tickets as ours for Doge's Palace didn't work and we had to purchase one inside the palace
St. Mark's Basilica Entry & Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audioguide