6 – Scuola Grande di San Rocco

6 – Scuola Grande di San Rocco. A lay confraternity founded in 1478, in the heart of Venice where art, culture and devotion meet.

History has it that a group of young Venetians built an exclusive club dedicated to San Rocco; a saint that could protect against plagues.

Tintoretto was commissioned to decorate it, with his most celebrated pictorial cycle, illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. You’ll also find other magnificent paintings by Titian, Giovane, and Tiepolo. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi to have survived the fall of the republic and is still active today.

San Polo district
Suggested duration: 1 – 2 hours
Tintoretto’s finest work – 60 of his finest works
Located next to Church of San Rocco
Vaporetto stop: San Toma
The wonderful must see “Frari” church close by

Scuola Grande di San Rocco – HISTORY

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a lay confraternity founded in 1478. The popularity of the cult of St. Roch, whose remains had been in the possession of the brotherhood since 1485, contributed to the latter’s rapid expansion to the extent of it becoming the richest Scuola of the city.

The inside of the building is marvelously painted by Tintoretto and includes 60 of his finest works based off the Old and New Testaments; showing the fall of man to humanities redemption by Christ.

At that point it was decided to build a new monumental headquarters and engage Tintoretto to decorate it with his most celebrated pictorial cycle, illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. You’ll also find other magnificent paintings by Titian, Giovane, and Tiepolo. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi to have survived the fall of the republic.

It is a unique site, where over 60 paintings are preserved in their original setting in a building that has hardly undergone any alteration since its construction.

The confraternity is still active today, carrying out its traditional charitable duties as well as looking after its extraordinary artistic patrimony. Make a visit to the neighbouring church of San Rocco, which contains the remains of the saint himself.