Venice itineraries:
The historical centre
- Sestriere Cannaregio
- Sestriere Castello
- Sestriere Dorsoduro
- Sestriere Santa Croce
- Sestriere San Marco
- Sestriere San Polo
Venice islands
Itineraries into art
Venice in two days
Venice Festivals
Planning Your Trip
Getting in and around
Murano glass
Venice travel guides
The Euro
Sestriere Santa Croce
Church of San Nicolò di Tolentino
Designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, finished by the Teatini monks, the church was
consecrated in 1602. The main altar was created by Longhena in 1661 and has
sculptures by Justo Le Court. The facade was designed by Andrea Tirali in 1714.
A 16th century church based on a plan by V. Scamozzi,
featuring an eight-columned Corinthian portico inspired by the Palladian style.
Important paintings in the interior include works by J. Palma il Giovane and The
Annunciation by L. Giordano.
The facade, a later addition, dates from the start of the 18th century.
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Church of S.Simeone prophet or S. Simeone Grande
It was founded in 967 as a basilica with three naves and retains this layout
today despite two renovations in the eighteenth century by Domenico Margutti and
Giorgio Massari. The nave and two aisles plan dates
back to the original construction.
In the interior are The Presentation in the Temple by J. Palma il Giovane (the
Younger) and a Last Supper by J. Tintoretto.
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Church of Santi Simeone and Giuda Apostoli S. Simeone Piccolo
This church was built in the eighteenth century with a central layout and an
impressive cupola. It predates the classical style.
Built in the 9th century through
merit of the Aoldo and Vrioso families, the church underwent various
restorations until 1718, when it was rebuilt on a plan by Giovanni Scalfarotto
in imitation of the Pantheon in Rome. Plenary indulgences, were
organized by Molin, the parish priest, who was known as “Mamera” (bashful).
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Square and Church of S.Zuane Degolà
The church is dedicated to San Giovanni Decollato, which has become San Zuane
Degolà in Venetian dialect. The church is very old. It was originally an oratory
and then became a parish church in 1007. Despite the alterations in the
eighteenth century it still maintains the appearance of a Venetian-Byzantine
church.
Il Fondaco dei Turchi
This was originally built as a private residence by the Pesaro family in
the thirteenth century. It was then bought in 1381 by the Venetian
Republic , who donated it to Nicola d'Este. In 1621 the Venetian
Republic rented it from the Pesaro family, who had reacquired the
building and then handed it over to Turkish merchants who used it as a
residence and for storing their merchamdise. In 1858 it was bought by
the city of Venice, which radically restored it. Today it is the seat of the
Natural History Museum
Church of S.Giacomo Dall'Orio
The name may well derive from the laurel that formerly grew around the church,
but it is more likely to refer to the 'luprio' or empty marshland, from which
the name Orio may derive. The church dates back to the ninth century and there
are still traces of the Byzantine building from 1225. It is laid out in the
shape of a Latin cross. The wooden Gothic ceiling is like the hull of a ship.
The church’s origins are ancient, dating back to the
9th century, and the present plan shows architectonic elements of various
styles, ascribable to successive alterations - a 13th century reconstruction and
alterations in 14th century.
Inside we can admire the wooden vaulted ship’s keel ceiling, besides other
important paintings among which a valuable
altarpiece by L. Lotto and works by J. Palma il Giovane and Veronese.
Beside the church stands the bell tower, a Veneto-Byzantine construction of the
12th - 13th century.
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Mocenigo Palace at San Stae
This ancient patrician residence was donated to the city of Venice in 1954. It
still contains old seventeenth century furnishings and today it houses a museum
of textiles and clothing. It also boasts a rich specialist library.
The residence of one of the oldest and most famous
Venetian noble families, Palazzo Mocenigo boasts precious furnishings and 18th
century paintings and is the premises of the Centre for the Study of the History
of Fabrics and Costumes as well as a rich library specialising in the subject.
The palazzo was the residence from the 17th century of the San Stae branch of
the Mocenigo family, one of the most important families of the Venetian
patriciate, seven members of which became doges between 1414 and 1778. It is a
large building of gothic origin extensively rebuilt at the beginning of the 17th
century, when it attained its present appearance.
The collection is laid out in the rooms of the first piano nobile of the
palazzo, with an ample selection of garments and accessories. As far as
possible, the pieces are laid out in such a way as to illustrate changing tastes
in both fashion and furnishings, underlining analogies in colour, line and
decorative motif between these two related areas of design. Mainly of Venetian
origin, the garments and accessories are in “worked” fabrics which are often
embellished with lace and embroidery. They are a fine illustration of the skill
of those numerous artisans (weavers, tailors, lacemakers, embroiderers, etc.)
who made such a contribution to that refined luxury and elegance for which the
Venetians of the day were famous.
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Church of S. Stae (S. Eustachio)
This church was rebuilt in the seventeenth century on pre-existing Byzantine
structures and consists only of a central nave. It is the work of Giovanni
Grassi. The altars have works by eighteenth-century artists such as Piazzetta
and Tiepolo. The façade was designed by Domenico Rossi with sculptures by early
eighteenth -century artists such as Tarsia and Corradini.
Here is a baroque church with a facade bearing precious
and richly decorative marble work.
The paintings to be seen in the interior are significant examples of early 18th
century Venetian painting. Among them are works by S. Ricci, G.B. Tiepolo, G.B.
Piazzetta and G.B. Pittoni.
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Ca' Pesaro
This was built by the Pesaro family in 1628 by renovating and joining together
existing buildings. The architect was Baldassarre Longhena. The building was
given a sumptuous façade overlooking the Grand Canal in 1679. After Longhena
died, the work was finished by Antonio Gaspari. A typical example of Venetian
Baroque, today it houses the
Museum of Modern Art
It contains major nineteenth and twentieth century works. The second floor
houses a collection of
Oriental Art that once belonged to Enrico Bourbon-Parma.
Church by S.Maria Mater Domini
Thia was already a parish church in the eleventh century. It was renovated in
the sixteenth century, and is still laid out in the form of a Greek cross
although the façade is in Tuscan Renaissance style. Inside, there are works by
Lorenzo Bregno and paintings by Catena and Tintoretto. The
Church of the Holy Mother of Christ completed in the first half of the 16thC
contains interesting examples of Renaissance art like The Martyrdom of St
Christine a work by V. Catena, sculptures by L. Bregno and, in the transept, The
Invention of the Cross by J. Tintoretto.
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Corner della Regina Palace
Built in the eighteenth century to a design by Domenico Rossi. It was built on
the site of property that already belonged to the Corner family. Caterina Corner
was born there in 1454. In 1471 she became queen of Cyprus through marriage and
the palazzo thus became known as 'della Regina'. Today, it houses the archives
of the Biennale. A noble 18th century building in a
classical style, built from a design by Domenico Rossi.
The work was begun in 1724 on the site of the previous palace of the Cornaro
family, whose branch was called "della Regina" because it descended from
Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, born here in 1454.
The last of the Corners, the priest Caterino, bequeathed the palace to Pope Pius
VII (1800) who gave it to the Cavanis Fathers for their charity school and from
whom it was bought by the town council for the premises of the Monte di Pietà
(Public Pawn Office). The wooden model for the palace is still kept in the
Correr Civic Museum.
Today it is the seat of the Biennale of Venice.
On the Grand Canal, this palace with an elegant and imposing facade was erected
at the beginning of the 18thC on the site of the palace where Caterina Cornaro -
the Queen of Cyprus - was born.
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Courtesy of Venezia Tourist Board