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Off the Beaten Path in Venice
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Venice Off the Beaten Path

Isola di San Michele, March 2004 - Venice
Isola di San Michele, March 2004
by rich77
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Venice attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Churches: San Pietro di Castello (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on September 23, 2009
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  • San Pietro di Castello - Venice
    San Pietro di Castello
    by Zvrlj
    Church San Pietro di Castello is on the island San Pietro di Castello – isolated and peaceful part of Venice. There were church at the same place since 7th century, first dedicated to SS. Sergio and Bacco, and then it seems that it was rebuilt by Bishop Magnus in honour of St Peter, and, in honour of the island, it was named San Pietro di Castello. San Pietro di Castello was the he Cathedral of Venice until 1807, when the title passed to St Mark's. After several reconstructions, it was "redesigned" by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century. Paintings in this church are made by Marco Basaiti ("St Peter Enthroned and Four Saints"), Luca Giordano ("Virgin and Child with Souls in Purgatory"), Tizian, Paolo Caliari Veronese, Alessandro Varotari Padovanino…

    There is so-called Throne of St Peter, presented to the Doge by Byzantine Emperor Michael III, in San Pietro di Castello. This throne, according to legend, was used by St Peter during his apostolic mission to Antioch of which he was the first bishop. Throne of St Peter plays an important role in Corto Maltese’s adventure in Venice.

    San Pietro di Castelo church is on the east side of Venice, and it can be reached by vaporetto ("San Pietro" station), or walking about 10 minutes north-east from Giardini.

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    Churches: Madonna dell'Orto (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on February 6, 2009
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  • Madonna dell'Orto (from Fondamenta dei Mori) - Venice
    Madonna dell'Orto (from
    Fondamenta dei Mori)
    by Zvrlj
    Madonna dell'Orto, one of the most beautiful "hidden" churches in Venice and "one of the greatest expressions of the Venetian Gothic" is settled in quiet and peaceful northern Cannaregio district. It was built in late 14th and reconstructed during 15th century. Originally dedicated to St Christopher, the church changed its name because an ancient statue of Virgin, found in a nearby garden and considered to be miraculous, was brought there. The portal of the church, designed by Bartolomeo Bon, is decorated with statue of St Christopher Carrying the Christ Child artwork of Nicolo di Giovanni called Fiorentino, architect and the sculptor of, probably, Croatian origin. At the top of side naves are twelve statues of the Apostles – six on each. There is a legend about one of thirty silver coins, Judas' award for betraying Christ, being there, inside the sculpture of Judas. At the upper part of central nave there is Virgin Annunciate, another sculpture by Nicolo di Giovanni.

    Madonna dell'Orto is the best known for the works of Jacopo Robusti called Tintoretto. Tintoretto lived nearby the church, he had been a parishioner of Madonna dell’Orto and, finally he had been buried in it. Tintoretto's six large canvases and four smaller ones are in Madonna dell'Orto. Eight of them are in the Chancel – all of the four smaller and the four of the large ones – "Moses Receiving the Tables of the Law", "The Last Judgment", "The Martyrdom of St Paul" and "The Vision of St Peter". The remaining two are the oldest one – "The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple" and the one painted the last – "The Miracle of St Agnes". Tintoretto's paintings in Madonna dell'Orto were made during the period of about 25 years.

    Even in treasure box such as Venice, Madonna dell'Orto is very special jewel and it must not be missed.

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    Santa Apollonia, Museo Diocesano (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on September 12, 2009
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  • Convent of Santa Apollonia - Venice
    Convent of Santa Apollonia
    by Zvrlj, 1 more photos
    Convent of Santa Apollonia, now Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra – Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, is one of Venice "hidden treasures" – hidden although it is located just behind Basilica di San Marco. This cloister, with double columns on longer sides and single columns on the shorter, was built in 12th and 13th century.

    Museum treasures the collection of paintings which includes the works of Jacopo Robusti called Tintoretto, Jacopo Palma il Giovane, Gregorio Lazzarini, Luca Giordano… But the highlight of the Museo Diocesano collections are excellent examples of wooden sculpture, from the 14th through 16th centuries, among them – the Altarpiece of Saint Donato, from the Church of San Donato in Murano, attributed to Paolo Veneziano.

    The museum organizes temporary exhibitions, and in July of 2007 we have seen the excellent exhibition Officina Durer – Durer Workshop, which presented some of the most famous prints by Albrecht Durer.

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  • Phone: + (0) 41 / 2771702
  • Website: http://www.veneziaupt.org/index.php?page=190&lang=en
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    Churches: San Giacomo dall'Orio (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on September 23, 2009
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  • San Giacomo dall'Orio - Venice
    San Giacomo dall'Orio
    by Zvrlj,
    2 more photos
    San Giacomo dall'Orio in Santa Croce area is one of the oldest Venetian churches. The original foundation of the building seems to date from the 9th century but the church was completely rebuilt in 1225. The churh was restored and modified in the 14th and the 15th centuries, the major renovation was undertaken in 1532 and the of Chapel of the Holy Sacrament was built in 1549. The origin of the name of the church is unknown. Possibilities include being named after a laurel – "lauro" that once stood nearby, a version of "dal Rio" – "of the river", or once standing on an area of dried-up swamp – "luprio".

    Exterior of the San Giacomo dall'Orio is very austere, excluding, perhaps, square-plan bell tower built in the 13th century. The interior is beautiful, with quite unique, archaic atmosphere. Wooden keel roof with decorated wooden beams, built in late 14th or early 15th century and recently renovated, looks spectacularly.

    San Giacomo dall'Orio treasures several paintings by Jacopo di Antonio Negretti called Palma Giovane considered to be the greatest of his achievements – "Passover", "Virgin and Child with Saints", "St Lawrence Giving the Wealth to the Poor", "The Martyrdom of St Lawrence"… Among the other paintings are "Virgin and Child with Saints" by Lorenzo Lotto, Veronese's "Doctors of the Church" and "Faith and the Holy Spirit"…

    Although located on the square of the same name, one of the most beautiful Venetian squares – Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio, the church main facade and the portal face tiny Campiello del Piovan.

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    Scala Contarini del Bovolo: Snail-Shell Stairway (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on February 12, 2009
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  • Scala del Bovolo - Venice
    Scala del Bovolo
    by Zvrlj,
    2 more photos
    Scala del Bovolo literally translated means "snail-shell stairway". The marvelous open stairway is the reason for the Contarini family palace to be called Palazzo Contarini dal Bovolo. The palace itself, designed by Giovanni Candi, was built in 15th and 16th centuries and it is mostly Gothic in style. However, the stairway tower designed probably by Giorgio Spavento is fully Renaissance work.

    Scala del Bovolo is in the hidden back yard of the palace – Corte Contarini del Bovolo. It is in San Marco area, very near Piazza San Marco but it is not easy to find it in the labyrinth of narrow streets. The best way to get there is to follow the signs from Campo Manin.

    In 2007 the stairway was closed due to the restoration works, but it could still be admired from outside, and even that is well worth of effort of finding it.

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    Arsenale: Arsenale
  • Tip Rating:
  • Fam.Rauca
  • By Fam.Rauca on October 25, 2005
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  • Arsenale - Venice
    Arsenale
    by Fam.Rauca, 4 more photos
    Long time constructed the economic centre of the city of the arsenals, Venice's big shipyard.
    Here, was built, equipped and repaired, from the 12th century, the famous Venetian long ships.
    The word Arsenale comes, from the Arabic concept Dar Sina'a (job).
    During the prime was active here, 16,000 workers, that was able to build within few hours, a whole ship.
    In the year 1917, the shipyard was shut down.
    Arsenale is, still, with few exceptions, military prohibited area.
    The big Corderia, serves as showroom during the Biennale.
    The mighty gate of Gambello, Venice's first classic renaissance construction, was built in the year 1460.
    Two of the four lions, to both sides of the gate came in the year 1687, from Athens to Venice.
    Corderia is open to the visitors, while the Biennale for exhibitions.

    Vaporetto 1, 41, 42
    Station: Arsenale

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    Other Islands: Isola di San Pietro (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on July 18, 2007
  • Venice Page by Zvrlj
  • Isola San Pietro (bell tower & dome of the church) - Venice
    Isola San Pietro (bell tower &
    dome of the church)
    by Zvrlj
    San Pietro is isolated and peaceful island, mostly "tourists-free", on the east side of Venice, just north from isola di Santa Elena (but not connected by any bridge with it). It is dominated by San Pietro di Castello church. There are two bridges connecting San Pietro island with other parts of Venice and "San Pietro" vaporetto station on the east side of the island.

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    Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on September 21, 2009
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  • Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel, view from C. d. Erbe - Venice
    Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel,
    view from C. d. Erbe
    by Zvrlj,
    2 more photos
    Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel is one of Venice's the nicest and the best preserved Gothic houses. It was built in late 15th century on the site of an earlier building in Veneto-Byzantine style. It is claimed that the wooden door and the metal knocker date from the 15th century as well. Gothic forms of the palace are evidence of the conservativeness of Venetian architecture, slow to embrace the new Renaissance style, already common in other parts of Italy.

    Originally built for the Gradenigo family, the palace was bought in 1473 by Nicolo Soranzo, the Procurator of St Mark's, whose family lived there for almost two centuries. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was owned by the Venier and Sanudo families until 1627 or 1628, when it was bought by the Van Axel family, wealthy textile merchants from Ghent. It remained the Van Axels' family home until 1920, when the antiquarian Conte Dino Barozzi bought and restored it, filling the house with magnificent, mainly 15th century, furniture and paintings. It has been the home of Marsoni family since the mid-1950s. A few years ago it was probably the best known building in Venice – for sale. The price was 11.000.000 £. Is it sold? At the time we have been writing this tip, in December of 2007 – we did not have a slightest idea about that. But Ingrid (VT Trekki), in 2009 update of her tip about Palazzo Sorrano-Van Axel gives the answer – the palace has been sold!

    Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel housed Mexican national presentation at 52nd Biennale in 2007 and we grabbed that opportunity to see the exterior of the palace.

    Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel is located in Cannaregio, on Fondamenta Sanudo. The back side of the palace is by Santa Maria dei Miracoli Church, on its east side. Another well known tourist spot nearby is Campo San Zanipolo – the shortest way from that square to the palace is via Calle delle Erbe.

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    Palazzo Zenobio – Collegio Armeno (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on March 24, 2008
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  • Palazzo Zenobio, view from the courtyard garden - Venice
    Palazzo Zenobio, view from the
    courtyard garden
    by Zvrlj, 3 more photos
    Palazzo Zenobio is one of the most beautiful edifices of Venetian late Baroque style. It was designed by Antonio Gaspari, Venetian architect, Longhena's pupil, and built in the last decade of the 17th century. The palace has large and very nice courtyard garden.

    The highlight of the Palazzo Zenobio interior is the ballroom also called the Hall of Mirrors. It is behind the balcony of the main facade and it extends over the two floors. Central fresco of marvellous ceiling decoration – "Celebration of the Myth of Apollo" painted by the Frenchman Louis Dorigny depicts Aurora and the chariot of Apollo.

    Palazzo Zenobio houses the Collegio Armeno – Armenian College "Moorat Raphael" since 1850. Part of the palace is a hostel. Palazzo Zenobio is used for Biennale exhibitions, which offered us opportunity in sumer of 2007 to explore it, and to see several exhibitions as well.

    Palazzo Zenobio is located in Dorsoduro, on the Fondamenta del Soccorso, very near Church of Santa Maria del Carmelo or Dei Carmini.

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    Campos: Campo San Pietro (I&V)
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  • Zvrlj
  • Updated By Zvrlj on September 20, 2007
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  • Campo San Pietro - Venice
    Campo San Pietro
    by Zvrlj
    Campo San Pietro is one of the most peaceful squares in Venice. It is dominated by Church San Pietro di Castello. People spending time there are mostly locals, playing with their children, reading newspapers or books, or simply sitting on the benches and enjoying quietness.

    Campo San Pietro is on the Isola di San Pietro, at the east of Venice, and it can be reached by vaporetto ("San Pietro" station), or walking about 10 minutes north-east from Giardini.

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