La Certosa Island

La Certosa is an island in the northern Venice Lagoon, historically occupied by a Carthusian monastery and later used for various civic and military purposes. It lies within the municipality of Venice in the Veneto region.

The island contains monastery ruins, open green spaces and waterfront quays; it is visited for its historic buildings and as a quieter part of the lagoon outside Venice’s main islands. Limited facilities have been developed for public access and occasional cultural events.

Originally the site of a Carthusian charterhouse, the island’s monastic buildings date from medieval and later periods and were repurposed over centuries for different uses. Parts of the monastery complex survive alongside more modern adaptations.

La Certosa sits in the Venice Lagoon just northeast of central Venice and is reached by boat from the city.

• Getting there: Reached by vaporetto and boat services from Venice and by private watercraft; access depends on lagoon transport schedules.

From Venice’s Fondamente Nove vaporetto piers take ACTV Line 4.1 or 4.2 toward Murano; disembark at Certosa (the crossing takes approximately 20-30 minutes). During summer weekends there is usually a direct waterbus service; check ACTV timetables.

• If visiting Venice, reach La Certosa by ACTV vaporetto line 4.1 or 4.2 from Fondamente Nove.
• Explore the island on foot; the abandoned monastery cloisters reveal layers of reuse - from military base to film set.
• Look for the ancient walls and the small pebbled beaches on the lagoon side; they're quieter and good for watching tides.