800 years of history and Camaldolese culture in the Venice lagoon

The year 2012 sees the millenary of the foundation of the Camoldolese Order, and the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Venetian Camoldolese monastery of San Michele in Isola, the centre for a fervent religious life and intense cultural activity that exercised considerable influence and played a leading role in the humanist culture of Venice.

Among the works of greatest worth and interest is the extraordinary Mappamondo (Globe) of Fra Mauro, a geographic “monument” made in the mid-15th century and now conserved in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. It has recently undergone a complex restoration and is now on public display once more.
On show too will be the large organ shutters by Bernardino and Giovanni d’Asola from the chancel of the church of San Michele and now in the Correr Museum, together with some fine and very rare illuminated manuscripts from the libraries of the Venetian Camoldelese monasteries.

The exhibition will provide an opportunity to rediscover the history and development of Isola di San Michele up to the 19th century, when it became state property and became Venice’s main cemetery.

Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico and Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
From May 12th to September 2nd 2012