The connected islands that form the Giudecca were originally known as Spinalonga (long spine), due to their resemblance to a fish skeleton. The island offers some dazzling views of Venice's mainland stretching across the Giudecca Canal. Throughout the Renaissance, it was a favourite rural retreat with the Venetian aristocracy who built a number of villas on the island and in 1529 Michelangelo came here during his exile from Florence.
Today the main attraction, apart from its exclusive hotel, is the Franciscan Redentore Church. Designed by Andrea Palladio, it was built to celebrate the deliverance from the plague of 1576. This is the site of the Festa dei Redentore (Festival of the Redeemer) that takes place every third weekend of July, with fireworks and the formation of a bridge of boats across the Giudecca Canal.
The island of San Giorgio faces directly opposite the Piazetta di San Marco and houses one of Venice's most recognisable landmarks, the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, also designed by Palladio. Inside is a Tintoretto painting of ' The Last Supper'. The view from the top of the campanile (bell tower) is stunning as is the large statue of an angel that used to crown the campanile until it was struck by lightening in 1993. The island today is entrusted to the Giorgio Cini Foundation who run a research centre, craft school and host numerous conferences in the historic rooms of the old Benedictine monastery.