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Scuola di S. Giorgio degli Schiavoni

Hours: Daily, 9.00 to 12.00 - 15.00/18.00, closed on Monday
Address: 3259/a, Calle dei Furlani - Castello - Venezia

The School took its name by the Dalmatian community which became a corporation in the 1451 with the patronage of saints George, Jerom and Tryphon; protagonists of the cycle of paintings maded by Vittore Carpaccio at the beginning of sixteenth century.
Even if it's not a "Grande" as the other Schools, "Scuola Grande degli Schiavoni" has a big importance in the Venetian history of art. It was officially opened in the 1451 and testified the presence of the Dalmatian (Schiavoni) community: Venice always trades with Dalmatia during its history, even more beginning from the fifteenth century when all the Dalmatia was annexed to Serenissima Republic. As a result of this annexion, all the people who came from Dalmatia felt the need to be represented by a symbol that testified both their history and culture: the School.
Following on was bought the old S.Caterina hospital and were used the first sums collected to restores the building: as a results was built the room at the groun floor destinated to the religious cerimonies while the room upstairs was used for meetings of the confraternity.
This School would probably be anonymous now if the Jerusalem patriarch had not gave the S.George's relic to the commander of Venetian fleet in the 1502. When the commander came to Venice decided to give the relic to the School dedicated to the Saint. At the same time, Carpaccio, was charged to realize some paintings dedicated to the saints Agostino, Matteo and Giorgio: masterpieces where Carpaccio reached the perfection of its art. Both this happenings gave to the building a great importance in Venice.
In the middle of sixteenth century the facade was transformed using marbles giving to it the actual aspect.
School was closed as the other by Napoleon and reopened later allowing the confraternity to be active till today.