Tour of San Michele Island:
This is an island in the Venetian lagoon turned into an urban cemetery. Nobody lives there, only relatives of the deceased and inquisitive tourists get there. Yes, yes, don’t be surprised, San Michele has long since become one of the city’s attractions and it is easily included in the lists of outbound excursions from Venice. Travellers have their own “interest” on the island: composer Igor Stravitsky and his wife have found peace there, theatre figure Sergei Diaghilev and writer Peter Weil are buried there. Finally, on San Michele you can visit the grave of the famous poet Joseph Brodsky.
The Venetian cemetery was once home to two islands connected by a canal – San Michele and San Cristoforo. As early as 1221 the first monastery appeared on San Michele, and in 1469 the church of San Michele in Isola was built. This Renaissance-style structure of white Istrian stone, designed by Mauro Codussi, has survived to this day and is of considerable interest. A century later, the Emilian Chapel was erected on the sprawling island. The first person who came up with the idea of burying the dead on the islands was Napoleon Bonaparte. The townspeople found the idea strange. They were used to burying the dead right in the city, not far from the cathedrals, or even right in the courtyards of residential houses. But “the emperor said, the emperor did.”
First, the land of San Cristoforo was used. After a while, the canal was filled in, the two islands were merged into one and given the common name of San Michele. The united territory turned into a fairly regular rectangle, the size of which is 400 x 450 metres.
The sights of San Michele Island.
When on the island, it is worth putting aside prejudices – there is absolutely no one and nothing to be afraid of. Yes, it’s a cemetery, but visiting it can be one of the most colourful experiences of Venice. As soon as you enter the island, you will see a gate. Once inside, you will see an alley filled from top to bottom with tombstones in the walls and on the floor. In places, it can feel like you’re walking right through the graves, but it’s an illusion.
Walking around, you can see real architectural masterpieces – some chapels and tombstones are so unusual they are as good as works of art. Entire families are buried on the island, and some Venetians have family crypts and burials. Each plot has its own entrance and there are signs everywhere. So you can easily find the grave of Diaghilev, Brodsky and Stravinsky.
Besides the cemetery on San Michele you can visit a monastery and a church. Architecture lovers will appreciate the Renaissance decoration of the monastery courtyard.
The Emilian Chapel, which is located near the church, is very beautiful. There you can admire interesting sculptures.
