La Certosa
 La Certosa from the south | |
  La Certosa | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°26′02″N 12°22′21″E / 45.433756°N 12.372573°E |
| Adjacent to | Venetian Lagoon |
| Area | 22 ha (54 acres) |
| Administration | |
| Region | Veneto |
| Province | Province of Venice |
La Certosa (Italian: Isola della Certosa) is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It is located northeast of Venice, fewer than 250 metres (820 feet) from San Pietro di Castello and little more than 500 metres (1,640 feet) from the Venice Lido. A 20-metre-wide (66 ft) channel separates it from the Vignole island. La Certosa has a surface of some 22 hectares (54 acres).
History
[edit]The island housed a community of Augustinian friars starting from 1199. After two centuries, the abandoned island was ceded to the Carthusians, the previous religious edifice being restored from 1490 to 1505. After the Napoleonic conquest of Venice, it became a military installation.
The 17th century Castello delle Polveri ("Powder Castle"), the only historical edifice remained today, has been restored from the late 1990s.
From 21 April to 27 November 2022 the island hosted the first Biennale National Pavilion of the Republic of Namibia with the exhibition titled: A Bridge to the Desert.[1][2] Covering an area of 20 hectares, the national participation was the most extensive of the 59th Venice Biennale and one of the most extensive of the history of Biennale.[3] The exhibition included two introductory paths to the main works: a 140x2 meters wall covered with Namib desert pictures by Roland Blum (photographer) and an immersive and interactive installation Seek to believe by Amebe Studio.[4]
Redevelopment
[edit] | This section needs to be updated. (May 2019) |
In 2010, plans were revealed for a project called "Parco della Certosa", which would redevelop the abandoned island to include a public green park, a nautical center and training school, as well as restaurants, bars, nature trails and water-based sports facilities.[5][6] The redevelopment is planned to be implemented in stages, with completion originally scheduled for 2015. However, on 12 June 2012, an F2 tornado struck the island, causing major damage to the island's trees.[dubious – discuss] Restoration activities began the same year.[6] The first stage of the park was opened to the public in 2013.[6]
As of 2025, the "Parco della Certosa" project, aimed at redeveloping the abandoned island, has seen significant progress, though it continues to evolve beyond its initial 2015 completion target.
Key updates include:
- Ongoing Redevelopment and Financial Restructuring: The project, now often referred to as "Certosa District," is being led by RealStep SGR, a real estate development company specializing in urban regeneration. In June 2025, a major financial restructuring was finalized, with Banca Finint entering as a co-financer with a €15 million line from the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) Integrated Urban Plans Thematic Fund, and Unicredit rescheduling its original loan to approximately €50 million. This investment is specifically for the redevelopment of Via Varesina 184, which by the end of 2025, is scheduled to house an exhibition space, a jazz club, a food gallery, and a restaurant overlooking a new 10,000 square meter park.
- Progress on Facilities and Public Spaces: The island already features a marina, boatyard, sailing school, kayaking facility, and a hotel and restaurant, as part of the overall development. The 17th-century "Castello delle Polveri" (Powder Castle) has been restored. The island largely functions as a public park with green spaces, nature trails, and areas for various activities.
- Tornado Restoration and Green Initiatives: The F2 tornado that struck the island on June 12, 2012, caused major damage to the trees, but restoration activities began the same year. The first stage of the park was indeed opened to the public in 2013, indicating successful recovery and continued development despite the natural disaster. There is a strong emphasis on sustainability, with efforts to turn Certosa into a renewable energy island, including testing electric vehicles, smart lighting systems, photovoltaic systems, and batteries for electricity storage.
- Focus on Sustainability and Community Engagement: The redevelopment operation by RealStep prioritizes sustainability, innovation, and promoting social interaction within the Certosa District. The aim is to transform a disused industrial area into a multifunctional district that includes community involvement and offers diverse collateral and complementary activities like restaurants, music clubs, exhibitions, and cultural events, which have attracted over 30,000 visitors in the last 12 months.
- Future Outlook: Work is proceeding at a fast pace, with expectations to complete the remaining part of the 100,000 m² (plus 16,000 m² of green space) within the next 24 months. The project aims to integrate new buildings with green and common areas, emphasizing a balance for the overall revitalization of the district.
Transport
[edit]The island is served by Actv waterbus lines 4.1 (anticlockwise) and 4.2 (clockwise) that connect Murano, Ferrovia, Giudecca and S.Zaccaria. Alilaguna's Blue line also serves the island on its route (Ferrovia-Zattere-San Marco Giardinetti-Lido SME-Certosa-Hospital-Fondamente Nove-Murano-Airport).
Notes
[edit]- ^ "National participations at Venice Biennale 2022".
- ^ Greenberger, Alex (3 March 2022). "A Guide to the 2022 Venice Biennale National Pavilions, From Futuristic Gardens to AI-Influenced Performance Art". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Il padiglione Namibia alla 59esima Biennale Arte 2022 di Venezia". www.artedossier.it. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Il Padiglione Namibia alla Biennale Arte di Venezia 2022" (in Italian). 12 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Venetian island gets green makeover | The Art Newspaper". www.theartnewspaper.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010.
- ^ a b c "Parco della Certosa | Progetto di riqualificazione dell'Isola della Certosa a Venezia. Partenariato pubblico-privato tra Comune di Venezia e VDV SRL". Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
Sources
[edit]- Busato, Davide; Paola Sfameni (2009). L'isola della Certosa di Venezia, ambiente e storia tra passato e presente. Venice: Centro Studi Riviera del Brenta.
