Island of San Servolo
The island is one of the most beautiful of the Venice lagoon. It lies between San Lazzaro degli Armeni and San Clemente, a ten-minute boat ride from St Mark’s square.
A vast complex of buildings features the island of San Servolo, which for a thousand years hosted monks from the Benedictine order, and for two centuries housed the mentally ill until 1978, when the reform of Psychiatry led to the closure of the hospital.
The island covers an area of 4.82 hectars, almost ten times that of the original dune determined by natural geological evolution of the lagoon area.
Free Shuttle Service!
We arranged a free shuttle service by boat, from Piazzale Roma (close to the bus terminal, parking, train station), leaving at 9:15 the two mornings of the conference.
How to get there
From City Center
Vaporetto n° 20
The n°20 vaporetto (public transport) connects the island to the city center. It departs from San Zaccaria, the waterfront adjacent to Piazza San Marco. The landing dock for the n°20 vaporetto is “San Zaccaria Monumento” in front of the Londra Palace Hotel.
From Piazzale Roma and from the train station to San Servolo
There are several choices from Piazzale Roma to San Servolo. Take either the n°2, n°4.1 or n°5.1, and get off at San Zaccaria boat stop. At San Zaccaria change to line n°20 which leaves from “San Zaccaria Monumento” boat stop.
Consider the Free Shuttle Service instead.
From Marco Polo International Airport to San Servolo, direct
Water (direct) and land Taxis (via Piazzale Roma)
You can take a private water taxi directly to your final destination (which is an expensive choice, from the airport to San Servolo it costs about €110.00 up to 4 people). Alternatively you can take a land taxi to Piazzale Roma, and then follow directions from Piazzale Roma.
ATVO buses (via Piazzale Roma)
These blue and yellow shuttle buses run from the airport to Piazzale Roma and they leave from in front of the entrance of the departure hall. Tickets cost €6.00 (low cost tickets can be purchased online). Automatic ticket machines can be found in the baggage hall, in the arrivals hall and outside the airport. The service runs from 9.00 to 24.00 and takes about 20 minutes to reach Venice. For timetables and further information visit ATVO.
Then follow directions from Piazzale Roma.
Alilaguna waterbus service (via City Centre)
This company offers a service that goes from the airport to San Marco through the Gran Canal (1hr 15m – Orange Line)
Tickets cost €15.00 and can be purchased in the arrival hall of the airport, directly on board or online (€13.00). Boats leave every 30 minutes.
For timetables and further information visit Alilaguna (http://www.alilaguna.it/en)
Then follow directions from City Centre
From Treviso International Airport to City Center
ATVO buses (via Piazzale Roma). Automatic ticket machines can be found in the baggage hall, in the arrivals hall or buy your ticket on board. The service runs from 9.00 to 24.00 and takes about 40 minutes to reach Venice. For timetables and further information visit ATVO. http://www.atvo.
€7 one way, €13 return.
Then follow directions from Piazzale Roma.
Arriving by car
If you bring a car to Venice, you will have to pay for a garage or parking space during your stay.
The last points in Venice where you can leave your car are “Piazzale Roma” and “Tronchetto”.
Parking at “Piazzale Roma” in the Municipal Garage costs €24.00-29.00 for 24 hours, in the private Garage San Marco (next door) it costs €30.00 for 24 hours.
To reach the privately run Tronchetto parking area, as you come into Venice, follow the signs and turn right before “Piazzale Roma”. Warning: Do not be waylaid by illegal touts – often wearing fake uniforms – who may try to flag you down and offer to arrange parking and hotels. Instead, continue on until you reach the automatic ticket machines. Parking here costs €21.00 for 24 hours.
(Do not leave valuables in the car. There is a luggage deposit office, open daily 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., next to the Pullman Bar on the ground floor of the Municipal Garage at “Piazzale Roma”). You can reach Piazzale Roma from Tronchetto by the new People Mover.
Another solution is to park your car in front of the train station in Mestre (http://www.parkingstazione.it
Then follow the directions from Piazzale Roma and from the train station to San Servolo.
Arriving by train
Venice has rail connections with every major city in Italy and the rest of Europe.
The main train station, Venezia Santa Lucia, is on the Grand Canal in the northwest of the city. Some through trains do not terminate at Santa Lucia, stopping only at the Venezia-Mestre Station on the mainland.
All trains traveling to and from Santa Lucia stop at Mestre, so to get from Venezia-Mestre to Santa Lucia, or vice versa (a 10- minute trip), take the first available train, remembering there is a supplement for traveling on intercity trains (frecce bianche, frecce rosse), and that if you do not pay it before boarding, you are liable for a fine. Tickets must be validated in the yellow appliances on the platforms before boarding the train.
You can also check the European train schedule in case you are arriving by train from Europe or the Italian train schedule (http://www.trenitalia.com/) if you are getting to Venice from another Italian city.
Then follow the directions from Piazzale Roma and from the train station to San Servolo.
Tickets for public boats
Tickets from S. Zaccaria to San Servolo cost € 5.00 one way.
A one way ticket valid for 75 minutes on the entire vaporetto network costs €7.50 (except Alilaguna boats)
venue
Auditorium:
Located on the ground floor in the 18th century part of the complex, the Auditorium is a large hall with fixed configuration and a magnificent view across the lagoon towards Lido di Venezia. Large glazed doors lead onto the island’s tranquil inner courtyard.
Palazzina Grecale:
The Palazzina Grecale consists of a large hall with windows and important Ca’ Rezzonico chandeliers. Very bright, it offers a charming view over the wooden terrace and surrounding lawn.
Barbecue:
In a delightful corner of the park, the Barbecue Area is an open-air space covered with a pergola, offering tables, chairs and an area with facilities for informal cocktails.
Im-Arch attendees can visit the newly opened 57th Biennale of Art Exhibition, titled VIVA ARTE VIVA and curated by Christine Macel, with a special price ticket, by just crossing the water (Giardini Biennale boat stop).
If you plan to attend at the Im-arch conference, add one day to your trip!
Don’t miss the comeback of Damien Hirst.
“Treasures from the wreck of the unbelievable”
Palazzo Grassi – Punta della Dogana