Exploring Venice’s Faro San Giorgio Maggiore Lighthouse with Kids

Most lighthouses tower over rocky cliffs or sandy beaches. This one stands about 15 meters tall on a Venetian island, watching boats glide past centuries-old churches reflected in the lagoon.

The Faro San Giorgio Maggiore lighthouse is the 52nd addition to the DuckAbroad lighthouse sticker collection. Built in the early 1800s near the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, it remains one of Venice’s most photogenic maritime landmarks.

A lighthouse built for a floating city

Venice doesn’t have a traditional coastline. Instead, it has a lagoon dotted with small islands, each with its own story. The Faro San Giorgio Maggiore sits on one of these islands, guiding vessels through the waterways that connect the city to the Adriatic Sea.

At about 15 meters (49 feet), it’s not tall by lighthouse standards — but it doesn’t need to be. In a city where most buildings rise barely above sea level, even a modest tower commands an impressive view.

What makes this lighthouse special

The lighthouse shares its island with the San Giorgio Maggiore church, one of Venice’s architectural treasures designed by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century. Together, they form one of the city’s most recognizable views: white stone, red roofs, and passing gondolas set against the shimmering lagoon.

Unlike remote lighthouses perched on rocky cliffs, this one stands in the heart of Venetian life. Water taxis and vaporettos pass it constantly, and tourists photograph it from St. Mark’s Square across the canal. Faro San Giorgio Maggiore has been part of Venice’s maritime story for more than 200 years and still operates today under the care of the Italian Navy.

Collect your sticker

Visit the Faro San Giorgio Maggiore and add this Venetian lighthouse to your DuckAbroad collection. It’s now available as the 52nd lighthouse sticker, bringing your family closer to completing the full collection.

Check in when you’re near the island to unlock this unique piece of Venice’s maritime heritage.