La Certosa or simply Certosa, is a little island in the Venetian lagoon where visitors can enjoy sailing, canoeing and cultural events. The small 54-acre island consists mostly of a public park and the ruins of the ancient cloister that gave the island its name. It is part of the Northern Lagoon of Venice and is just half a kilometre from Venice Lido.
A rich environmental heritage
In the 19th century under Napoleonic rule, the monks were exiles, the island was stripped of its works of art and it became a military outpost until its definitive abandonment in the middle of the last century. For about ten years the island has been undergoing a phase of redevelopment, with the establishment of a park that enhances its rich environmental heritage, where wild animals can shelter among white poplars, ash trees, privets, hawthorns, mulberries and other plants typical of the coast.
Sailing courses and canoe rentals
The island is now managed by the Polo Nautico Vento company which has built a dock and organizes sailing courses, activities and cultural events and there is a hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight. On La Certosa visitors make excursions on foot or rent a canoe or a small boat with an electric motor to discover the nearest islands. The only historic building left on the island is the Casello delle Polveri, a 17th-century complex that housed military ammunition and is now a venue for events and conferences.
An 18-room hotel close to the vaporetto water bus pier
Certosa is served by public transport, and there is also a shuttle organized by the managers of the Polo Nautico for the less served time slots. For visitors looking for a place to stay, or simply to enjoy a drink or a meal, the 18-room Venice Certosa Hotel is located next to the marina and within a short walk of the ACTV vaporetto pier.
