The Ateneo Veneto of Sciences, Literature and Arts was established by a Napoleonic Decree on January 12, 1812 and is one of the oldest cultural institutions still active today.

Its premises in Campo San Fantin, has a lengthy history. It was built to first host the two confraternities of San Girolamo and Santa Maria della Consolazione which during the mid 1400’s merged together as they shared the same social welfare objectives, namely, to provide spiritual support to those sentenced to death by hanging, from which the name, “Scuola dei Picai (the hanged)” or a “milder death” was derived.

Destroyed in a fire in 1562, the premises underwent massive restructuring with the interventions by important architects, painters and sculptors (Alessandro Vittoria, Tintoretto, Palma il Giovane, Veronese, Leonardo Corona) and towards the end of the 1500’s and early 1600’s, it was completed to its present layout.

The Ateneo Veneto is the oldest cultural institute still operative in Venice. Established in 1812, it is located in Venice, Campo San Fantin, in the historic and monumental complex of the ancient Scuola di San Girolamo (also known as San Fantin), which it owns. Its duration is indefinite.

It carries out activities of general interest for the non-profit pursuit of civic, charitable, and socially beneficial purposes, including the organization and management of cultural, artistic, and recreational activities, including educational publishing, and with interventions to protect and enhance the cultural heritage and landscape. It promotes and disseminates science, literature, and the arts in all their manifestations, with particular attention to Venice and the Veneto region.

Situated in a historical building of the 1500’s previously known as “Scuola dei Picai”, the Ateneo Veneto is a venue open to the city of Venice. During the course of the year, hundreds of initiatives are held focusing on cultural and scientific debates, training and outreach courses as well as events dedicated to the arts and sciences, all free of charge.

Not only are there initiatives foreseen within its Academic Programme, duly promoted by the institute but there are also numerous events hosted by the Ateneo Veneto that are considered meritorious and coherent to its objectives.

There are many activities, all free of charge, with which the Ateneo Veneto uses to respect its statutory provisions. Besides promoting its cultural programme, there is the establishment of research prizes, the publication of studies and monographs, the conservation and maintenance of its vast library which contains over 60,000 volumes, of which 20,000 are relevant to Venice and the Veneto Region, that are available for consultation by the public.