Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Churches, Venice
Search:
Home » Travel Guides » Europe » Italy » Veneto » Venice » Off the Beaten Path » Churches Reviews

Venice Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Churches, Venice

Best Venice Travel DealsSponsored Links

Venice Italy Accommodation
Get Our Best Price Guarantee on All Hotels in Venice at Expedia.

250 Hotels Venice - Italy
Book a hotel in Venice online. Find your hotel on a city map.

287 Venice Hotels
Our selection of great hotels in Venice. Special Offers! Book now.

San Barnaba - Venice
San Barnaba
by suvanki
Churches tips and photos posted by real travelers and Venice locals.
• 116 Photos
• 78 Reviews

See all Venice Off the Beaten Path
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Churches: San Pietro di Castello (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Pietro di Castello - Venice
    San Pietro di Castello
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    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 1596. 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.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Venice?

    Read reviews about Venice Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Churches: Madonna dell'Orto (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • Madonna dell'Orto (from Fondamenta dei Mori) - Venice
    Madonna dell'Orto (from
    Fondamenta dei Mori)
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    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.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: San Giacomo dall'Orio (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • 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 century, 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.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: Santa Maria Formosa – Mysterious Head (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • Santa Maria Formosa – mysterious & monstrous head - Venice
    Santa Maria Formosa –
    mysterious & monstrous
    head
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Santa Maria Formosa is not off the beaten path at all, it is church, built in 15th and 16th century, on the square of the same name, and square & church are among the most visited tourist locations for the two reasons: their beauty and their position – approximately on the half way from San Marco square to San Giovanni e Paolo square. But what is often missed is the mysterious and monstrous head on the bell tower, on its side opposite of the church portal.

    We couldn’t find out anything more about it for quite a some time, but Ingrid – Trekki has managed to do that. Here is the quotation from The Stones of Venice by John Ruskin about the subject of this tip – "A head, huge, inhuman and monstrous, leering in bestial degradation, too foul to be either pictured or described, or to be beheld for more than an instant; yet let it be endured for that instant; for in that head is embodied the type of evil spirit to which Venice was abandoned in the fourth period of her decline; and it is well that we should see and feel the full horror of it on this spot, and know what pestilence it was that came and breathed upon her beauty; until it melted away like the white cloud from the ancient field of Santa Maria Formosa."

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: San Giorgio dei Greci (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Giorgio dei Greci is Greek Orthodox church and the only Orthodox church in Venice. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, many Greeks found refuge in Venice. Their community became one of the largest and in 1526 they obtained permission to practice the orthodox rite and to acquire a piece of land in Castello area, where in 1536 they built the church designed by Sante Lombardo and Giovanni Antonio Chiona. The tall, slender facade of the church was designed by Baldassare Longhena. The bell tower was built between 1587 and 1617.

    The rectangular interior of this very fine Renaissance church is dominated by the marble iconostasis with decorated panels in Byzantine style.

    San Giorgio dei Greci is located in Castello area, sharp north from Santa Maria della Pieta church, in small yard by Rio dei Greci.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Venice?

    Read reviews about Venice Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Churches: San Giovanni in Bragora (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Giovanni in Bragora - Venice
    San Giovanni in Bragora
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    According to legend, San Giovanni in Bragora was one of the seven original churches on the islands of Venice. Dedicated to St John the Baptist, the church had been founded at the beginning of the 8th century by St Magnus, the Bishop of Oderzo. It was restored in the 9th and the 12th centuries and rebuilt in 1475 in the Gothic style. Its brick facade is divided vertically by pilasters that mark the internal division of the church into nave and side aisles. Addition to its name is probably derived from the old dialectal word "bragolare", meaning the fishing trade, or from "bragola", meaning a market square, but another tradition states that the church took its name from the Greek "agora", which means simply "square".

    The best known painting in this church is "Baptism of Christ", made by Cima da Conegliano. Among the others are "Washing of the Feet" by Jacopo di Antonio Negretti called Palma Giovane, "Virgin and Child with St John the Baptist and St Andrew" by Bartolomeo Vivarini, "Resurrection" by Alvise Vivarini…

    Antonio Vivaldi, famous Venetian composer and violinist, and Pietro Barbo, later to be Pope Paul II were baptized in Church San Giovanni in Bragora.

    San Giovanni in Bragora is located in Castello area on Campo Bandiera e Moro or De la Bragora, by Riva degli Schavioni.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: Santa Maria dei Miracoli
  • Tip Rating:
  • Santa Maria dei Miracoli has suffered from rising damp - hardly surprising considering its position surrounded by water -and has undergone restotation many a time. This "jewellery box" of a church is adorned with marble slabs and bas-relief thanks to its designer Pietro Lombardo (built 1481-9).The marble used for the church is said to have been that left over from the building of St. Mark’s Cathedral.

    The interior is just as ornate and I could just imagine a long wedding train sweeping up those steps to the altar - truly a romatic setting for a wedding. Its name derives from miracle working icon - enshrined in the main altar - said to have resucitated a drowned man.

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: San Giorgio Maggiore (V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Giorgio Maggiore (from vaporetto) - Venice
    San Giorgio Maggiore (from
    vaporetto)
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    I am not sure if San Giorgio Maggiore is off beaten path – it is visible from Piazzeta San Marco and it can be easily reached by vaporetto ("San Giorgio" station), but whenever I entered it, it was empty or almost empty!

    San Giorgio Maggiore is church on the island of the same name. It is artwork of Andrea Palladio, one of the most famous and the most influental architects. The building of this church, which began in 1566 and the facade was completed in 1610, 30 years after Palladio's death. The church is a beautiful example example of Palladio's architectural style, and one of the finest buildings he designed. The bell tower, first built in 1467, fell in 1774 and it was rebuilt in 1791. It is open to public, easily accessible and offers an amazing view of Venice. The Benedictine monks still officiate in the church.

    Among the artworks inside the church are replica of Vittore Carpaccio's masterpiece "St George and the Dragon", influential Jacopo Bassano's "Adoration of the Shepherds"… But the most precious of artworks treasured in San Giorgio Maggiore are three paintings made by Jacopo Robusti called Tintoretto: "Entombment", "The Jews in the Desert" and the most famous of all, artist's masterpiece, one of his latest (if not the last) and his best artworks – "The Last Supper". Tintoretto painted the Last Supper several times in his life, his paintings of the Last Supper are in Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Santo Stefano and San Polo churches, and it is very interesting to compare one in San Giorgio Maggiore with his earlier paintings of the same subject.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: San Trovaso – Mysterious and Monstrous Head (I&V)
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Trovaso – mysterious & monstrous head - Venice
    San Trovaso – mysterious
    & monstrous head
    by Zvrlj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Mysterious and monstrous head appears from the bell tower of early 17th century Church of San Trovaso in Dorsodurao area. This head, similar to the one on the bell tower of Santa Maria Formosa, looking less deformed but more wicked, probably "embodies the evil spirit". The head faces Fonmdamenta Sangiofoletti.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Churches: Fantastic Ceiling
  • Tip Rating:
  • San Pantalon - I'd never heard of Fumiani until I went to Venice, but he painted one helluva fantastic ceiling here in the late 1600's. His dark, winged vision of the martyrdom of Saint Pantalon is spectacular, very much a 3-D illusionistic work. You'd never guess by the plain look of the church on the outside. At Campo San Pantalon, in Dorsoduro.

    Open only from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Monday through Saturday.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    More Venice Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 869 - Photos: 927
    Things To Do
    Tips: 3,574 - Photos: 5,696
    Nightlife
    Tips: 228 - Photos: 235
    Transportation
    Tips: 748 - Photos: 912
    Restaurants
    Tips: 771 - Photos: 738
    Shopping
    Tips: 287 - Photos: 355
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 827 - Photos: 1,273
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 286 - Photos: 218
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 297 - Photos: 286
    Local Customs
    Tips: 369 - Photos: 530
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 120 - Photos: 85
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 29 - Photos: 57
    General Tips
    Tips: 1,273 - Photos: 1,538
    Flights
    Tips: 47 - Photos: 0

    More Venice Travel Deals

    Custom Tours of Italy
    Custom itineraries & private guides from Nat'l Geographic Top Outfitter

    Rome Italy Hotels
    Hotels.com Reviews, Photos & More! Book Now and Save on Rome Hotels

    Venice Accommodation
    Venice apartments from €70 Night Best Accommodations in Venice

    Hotels in Venice
    Hotels in the heart of Venice Lowest prices. From 35 €

    Sponsored Links


    Venice Hotels





    Find:        Matching:  Advanced
    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Advertising on VirtualTourist |  Press Center |  Help |  Travel Tools |  VT Gear |  Local Merchant Login |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.