- UNESCO
Photo: User:Chris 73, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Abbey / Monastery
Santo Spirito
Island
At a glance
- Type
- Abbey / Monastery
- Area
- 23,800 m²
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Venice and its Lagoon
- Coordinates
- 45°24′01″ N, 12°20′03″ E
History and description
Santo Spirito is an island in the southern Venetian Lagoon situated between the islands of Poveglia and San Clemente. The island has a land area of 6.2 acres (2.5 ha).
History
For much of its history, the island housed a monastery first constructed in the 12th century.
In 2011, the island was put up for sale while under the ownership of local real estate company Poveglia Ltd. The island had been approved for residential, office, or hotel use and had an asking price of €20 million (then $28 million).
In 2018, the island was purchased by Australian investment group Mayfair 101 under the leadership of James Mawhinney, who envisioned a luxury resort on the island. The company disclosed that it paid less than half the €20 million asking price. The purchase was problematic, however, with the Supreme Court of Victoria finding that the means by which Mawhinney purchased the island through a chain of transactions were of "questionable validity". Furthermore, it was revealed that Mayfair had not obtained building permits. The island was liquidated in 2020 with no development by Mayfair.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Santo Spirito».
Photos
Getting there
Venezia Santa LuciaTrain, nearest
4.7 km as the crow flies
Santo Spirito
Isola San Clemente1.3 km
Aeroporto Marco Polo di Venezia11.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore abbeys and monasteries in Veneto
Frequently asked questions
Where is Santo Spirito?
Santo Spirito is in Venice, in the province of Venezia (Veneto), Italy. GPS coordinates: 45.40028, 12.33417.
What else is there to see near Santo Spirito?
Nearby you’ll find: Ottagono Poveglia (2.2 km away), Hotel Excelsior (2.6 km away), Garden of Eden (2.6 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 4 photos
- Santo Spirito Venice — User:Chris 73, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Guardi Island of Santo Spirito — Francesco Guardi, Public domain
- Isola Santo Spirito — Abxbay, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Giacomo Guardi Isola di S Spirito — Giacomo Guardi, Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences