Armenian Monastery Mechitarist

The Armenian Monastery Mechitarist, located on the serene island of San Lazzaro in Venice, is a hidden gem that offers a unique and enriching experience. This beautiful monastery is not only a place of worship but also a center of Armenian culture and heritage. As you step onto the island, you are immediately struck by the tranquility and beauty of the surroundings. The monastery itself is an architectural masterpiece, blending traditional Armenian elements with Venetian style. The well-kept gardens and peaceful atmosphere make it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Venice. The monastery houses a remarkable collection of manuscripts, artifacts, and artworks that provide a deep insight into Armenian history and culture. The guided tours are highly informative, led by knowledgeable monks who share fascinating stories about the monastery's history and its founder, Mechitar of Sebaste. One of the highlights of the visit is the library, which holds an extensive collection of ancient manuscripts and rare books. The richness of the collection and the care with which it is preserved are truly impressive. The Armenian Monastery Mechitarist is more than just a historical site; it is a living testament to the enduring spirit and culture of the Armenian people. It's a must-visit for anyone interested in history, culture, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat. Highly recommended for a unique and memorable experience in Venice.

It was really impressive how the Armenian community build such a monastery so far away from home. Here there is the main monastery the garden between the building the library which has a surprise in it try standing in the middle of it and saying something and there is the museum part which I am not sure if you can enter without a guide. All in all a must see cause it supet beautiful with an interesting history and it is pretty easy to get there.

It was a beautiful experience. The church, the museum and library were breathtaking. The little shop was cute too. Something I didn’t understand was we couldn’t take pictures of certain areas but we saw people who could.. Levon was an excellent guide. Would like to know more about his story and experience in this Island !

Beautiful island, beautiful history, friendly guide and staff! You have to book by phone or email and they are very helpful. We had an Italian tour so even if I speak an ok Italian, I missed some info. My mom got along really well with the oldest priests (97 years old haha! I thought the tour was great but a little long but maybe it's just me :)

Absolute gem of a place for anyone interested in history, culture, literature, or religion. Has an exceptional collection of artefacts, art, and manuscripts- I shall say no more on that so as not to spoil it, but there are two paintings of Lord Byron, who spent six months here. Tour guide spoke English well, with a deeply interested and thoughtful account of everything in front of us. You'll need about 3 hours for this place including the travel time, but certainly worth it. Hope to visit again. Grazie mille

The best Armenian church in rest of the world except Armenia. In the museum there are things that even armenians need to see. So if you're in Venice you must visit the church and the museum. The reasons to visit the island 1.You get there in a boat which is already an entertainment 2.You visit the best Armenian church in the world 3.You visit even the best Armenian museum 4.You get known better of armenian history 5.You can see Komitas death mask, Hovhannes Ayvazovski's original paintings, the first Armenian passport and money, a real mummy and the first printed book in the whole world. Real 5 stars

An invaluable center of scholarship, spirituality, history and a testimony for the perseverance of the Armenian faith and soul over the centuries. It is also a symbol the unity and friendship between the christians of Armenia and Italy. Try to avoid the tourist season to make sure the guides (who are also scientists, men of the cloth) have enough time to answer your many questions. We called the monastery in advance to book a tour. The cost was €10. The ferry from Venice is chargeable separately.

Worth a visit if you have free time. You have to book in advance tickets for a guided tour, in which you will learn a lot about lesser known history.