San Giorgio degli Schiavoni

The Renaissance art here is splendid, especially the Carpaccio masterpieces, and it’s a hidden gem in Castello Venice. Still, it’s difficult to find, with no signs or captions. The staff were rude, and nothing had been arranged for International Museum Day. One original painting had been replaced by a copy during a long restoration. A lovely place for Carpaccio fans, despite those issues.

This charming church and gallery has two levels and paintings showing St George in a series of victories. My favorite is the one where he brings a very subdued dragon into the town square. There’s also a lovely painting of St Jerome in a trance. It’s a little away from the tourist route, so it wasn’t very busy.

One of the loveliest little art houses I’ve ever visited.

Finding it takes a little effort, but this is one of Venice’s great places to visit. The building is still the one the paintings were made for, and inside you’ll find one large masterpiece after another by Vittore Carpaccio, who was a contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci. My companion and I didn’t need much help from the caretaker, but she was engaging, lively, and informative, which made the visit even more special. We were there in mid-October, and only a few other tourists came in.