Hotels near Scuola Grande di San Rocco

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is the headquarters of a charitable confraternity founded in the 15th century, and its halls hold one of the greatest painting cycles in Italy. Jacopo Tintoretto spent more than 20 years, from 1564 to the late 1580s, covering its walls and ceilings with more than 50 canvases, including a monumental Crucifixion that fills an entire wall of the Sala dell'Albergo.

The upper hall, the Sala Capitolare, is so richly decorated that visitors are offered mirrors to study the ceiling without straining their necks. It is an ideal October visit for a rainy afternoon and is rarely crowded compared with the landmarks around San Marco. The Basilica dei Frari, with Titian's Assumption above the high altar, is a two-minute walk away.

Pro Tip: Pick up a mirror at the entrance to the upper hall and allow at least an hour, then add the Frari and finish with an evening spritz in Campo Santa Margherita.