San Michele Cemetery Island

Over the course of the last few centuries, many things that no longer had room on Venice’s main island were relocated to neighboring islands.

This was also the case with the cemetery (Cimitero) under Napoleon in the early 19th century. At first, the cemetery was reserved for the nobility. Today, all citizens of Venice are buried here, even though space remains very limited.

Our tip: On your trip from Venice to Murano, be sure to visit the Cemetery Island as well. Just get off the boat and take the next one to continue on to Murano.

Of course, this also applies to the return trip. The island of San Michele used to be a monastery. Recently, the cemetery on the island was expanded to include modern architecture. Reactions to this vary depending on one’s taste.

The Graves

It feels like you're at a flower show here: bright, warm, colorful, and even a little contemplative. You'll find many ancient trees here—a rarity in Venice. Usually, cemeteries are associated with negative feelings like grief and pain.

Even if it may sound strange and almost macabre, the vibrant colors of Italian cemeteries are more likely to lift your spirits than to plunge you into a melancholic mood. Many well-known figures are buried here. Among the most famous is probably Igor Stravinsky.

You'll search in vain for one of the city's most famous sons, Antonio Vivaldi. He was buried in Vienna at the Cemetery for the Poor, which no longer exists.

Take the Vaporetto on Line 4.1 or 4.2

The vaporetto on Line 4.1 or 4.2, which takes you to Murano, also stops at San Michele Cemetery, as you can see here on the map.

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