According to some accounts, a church dedicated to San Cristoforo stood here as early as the 8th century. The first to settle here were Benedictine monks, who erected a church in honor of San Servolo, the martyr of Trieste. They were succeeded by Benedictine nuns, who rebuilt the convent in 1205. For a long time, the island was inhabited exclusively by nuns. Later, after a few years of neglect (between 1615 and 1648), a contingent of 200 nuns arrived from Candia... Finally, in 1715, the island was entrusted to the Ospedalieri di San Giovanni di Dio. It became the "island of care" for both general and psychiatric therapy. At first, only the noble lunatics were treated in the hospital, which was later opened to all. The so-called "Island of Fools" boasted a number of facilities: vegetable gardens cultivated by the patients, a mill, a hardware store, a sewing workshop, a carpenter's shop and even a pasta factory. Until 1980, the island was home to Venice's psychiatric hospital, until a law forbade it. Today, following major restructuring work, the island is home to Venice International University, which welcomes over 800 students from all over the world every year. It also boasts a museum, an accommodation center and a restaurant, Robe da Matti, open to outside visitors. Cultural events are held here every summer.

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