Monastero Mechitarista di San Lazzaro degli Armeni
Armenian monastery on an island in the Venetian lagoon, with church, manuscript library, picture gallery and museum; visits only with a guide and by appointment.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The island of San Lazzaro, in the lagoon south-east of Venice, was originally used to receive lepers and then remained abandoned until 1717, when it was assigned to the Armenian monk Manug di Pietro, known as Mechitar (“the consoler”), who had fled from Modon, occupied by the Ottomans. Here Mechitar founded a monastery and, after restoring the church and cloister, began an intense programme of education and of spreading Armenian culture.
In the monastery, scientific, literary and religious texts were translated into Armenian; in 1786, after the death of the founder, a polyglot printing press was opened and the congregation of the Mechitarist Fathers took shape. The monastery survived the Napoleonic suppressions, because Napoleon regarded it as a literary academy. The present church, rebuilt after the fire of 1883 on a pre-existing building, houses Mechitar's tomb.
In the cloisters there is a picture gallery, a museum with Egyptian, Oriental and Roman archaeological finds and a rich collection of Armenian manuscripts. The library holds paintings by Palma il Giovane and Sebastiano Ricci and a fresco attributed to Tiepolo. The island is still today a religious community devoted to prayer and study.
Highlights
- Collection of Armenian manuscripts and the monastery library
- Museum with Egyptian, Oriental and Roman archaeological finds
- Paintings by Palma il Giovane and Sebastiano Ricci and a fresco by Tiepolo
- Church with the tomb of the founder, Mechitar
- Historic printing press of the Mechitarist Fathers
Permanent exhibition
- Museo, quadreria e biblioteca del monastero – The cloisters house a picture gallery, Egyptian, Oriental and Roman archaeological finds and the collection of Armenian manuscripts, with the library decorated with paintings and a fresco.
- Founded
- 1717
- Operated by
- Congregazione Mechitarista
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|
A ticket of €10 is indicated for the guided visit of the island and monastery (information from a Venetian tourist portal; it is advisable to confirm the amount when booking).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
San Lazzaro
The island is reached by vaporetto with line 20 from San Zaccaria, stop San Lazzaro.
A Venetian tourist portal lists the visit's vaporetto departure from San Zaccaria at 15:10; the timing is confirmed when booking.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits only with a local guide and by appointment; the route includes the church, cloister, library and museum. |
