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  • Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients - Insane Asylum Museum of San Servolo, Venice

    Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients

  • Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients - Insane Asylum Museum of San Servolo, Venice

    Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients, San Servolo

  • Ward and courtyard agitated patients - San Servolo, Venice

    Ward and courtyard agitated patients - San Servolo

  • Second observation and epileptic patients - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Second observation and epileptic patients

  • Shoemaker's Workhop - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Shoemaker's Workhop - San Servolo Island, Venice

  • Typography - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Typography - San Servolo Island, Venice

  • Hydrotherapy - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Hydrotherapy - San Servolo Island, Venice

History of the island

The Island of San Servolo is composed of a large architectural complex and a lovely park. The island was a monastic seat for a thousand years, then it housed psychiatric patients until the hospital’s closing following the psychiatric reform of 1978. Its first settlement dates back to the 7th century, when a group of Benedictine monks took refuge on the narrow and marshy island. In 1647, the complex was given to a group of Benedictine, Dominican and Franciscan nuns from the island of Candia.

Next, the Senate of the Venetian Republic decided to use the Island of San Servolo to house the many injured who fled the clashes with the Turks. Medical services were provided by the Padri Ospedalieri di San Giovanni di Dio, now known as Fatebenefratelli. From that time on, the island’s history became closely linked with the authorities’ attitude toward disabling illnesses in general, and mental illness in particular.

The Province of Venezia, now known as the Metropolitan City of Venice, retained ownership of the island. In the 1990s, it began an architectural recovery programme to protect and promote it through its in-house company, San Servolo – Servizi Metropolitani di Venezia.

  • Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients - Insane Asylum Museum of San Servolo, Venice

    Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients

  • Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients - Insane Asylum Museum of San Servolo, Venice

    Pavilion and courtyard of tranquil patients, San Servolo

  • Ward and courtyard agitated patients - San Servolo, Venice

    Ward and courtyard agitated patients - San Servolo

  • Second observation and epileptic patients - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Second observation and epileptic patients

  • Shoemaker's Workhop - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Shoemaker's Workhop - San Servolo Island, Venice

  • Typography - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Typography - San Servolo Island, Venice

  • Hydrotherapy - San Servolo Island, Venice

    Hydrotherapy - San Servolo Island, Venice

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San Servolo is part of
Based on the San Servolo's Island