Churches, Venice

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The church of SS. Gervasio e Protasio was first built in the 9th century by two families, Barbarigo and Caravella. The church was burned down in fire in 1105 but rebuilt in 1583 to a design by Francesco Smeraldi, a pupil by Andrea Palladio. The church has two identical facades so that two rival families, the Nicolotti and Castellani could each have the entrance of equal importance. It's one of funny legend about Venetians who enjoy in quarrelings. The church is commonly known as San Trovaso, which is Venetian name for both saints.
The interior of the church is Latin cross with six chapels along the nave. It is rich of very notable works of art by Domenico Tintoretto, his son Jacopo and Palma il Giovane.

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The islet where the original church of San Nicolo dei Mendicoli (Saint Nicholas of the Beggars) was located, previously housed poor fishermen, hence the addition of "mendicoli" to the name of San Nicolo. When the church was built, from then on the inhabitants were called Nicolotti.
The present structure of San Nicolo dates from the 12th century but it seems that the church has been founded in the 7th century. I was couple of time here, around the church, but it was always closed. A local guy told me it has beautiful unteriors. The church is one of only two churches in Venice with the covered porch. The porch used to provide shelter for the poor and homeless people, and a place for women to pray.
San Nicolo was Greek Bishop known for his generosity and anonymous girfts to the poor people. He was the most popular saint in the medieval times and patron saint of working class; fishermen, sailors, shipbuilders and small merchants.

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The first church on this site, built of wood, has been founded in 797 and dedicated to San Vittorio.
Beautiful facade of the church dedicated to San Moise, or San Moise profeta, is almost hidden inside the area around Piazza San Marco. It also honours Moise Venier who paid for its rebuilding in 9th century.
The current church is from 1632 while its facade dates from 1668 to the designs of the architect Alessandro Tremignon. The reconstruction was paid for by the Fini family, Vincenzo Fini was the Procurator of San Marco. The elaborate front facade is in Baroque style and covered in carvings, looking very theatrical and made to glory the Fini's. All the docorations, including sculptures in the interiors, are by Flemish sculptor Heinrich Meyring, whom Venetians used to call Merengo.
The bell tower dates from the 14th century with fired brick spired.

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The Church of San Giovanni Grisostomo has been founded in 1080 but the original church burned down in 1475. In 1497 famous Venetian architect Mauro Codussi made new design for the church. It wasn't easy work because the church is squezeed into a small and crowded campo. The church was completed in 1525 by Domenico Codussi, after death of his father.
The campanile dates from the late 16th century. The interiors had Greek cros plan ringed by apses. The church interiors preserving notable works of art by Lombardo and Bellini.

The original church of San Lorenzo have been founded in the 6th or 7th century, with the Benedictine convent established in 863. The church was rebuilt several times and it current look dates from the reconstruction 1592-1602, but its facade was never ever started. I have visited this spot many times and each times some reconstruction works were on it.
The church was rich of art works which have been dispersed during this reconstractions. Just to mentione, Marco Polo had been buried in San Lorenzo but his sarcophagus was lost during one the reconstructions.

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Campo San Toma is, at least to me, the most beautiful square in whole of Sestiere San Polo. The whole square is dominated by the white marble facade of the church dedicated to San Toma Apostolo. It was founded in 917 with money from the Miani family and restored later on in several ocasions. The facade from 1652, designed by Longhena, was replaced as it was about to fall down. It was replaced in the mid of 18th century with classical facade by Francesco Bognolo.
Opposite to San toma Apostolo stands Scoletta di Callegheri, built in 1446, which is seat of the Brotherhood of shoemakers and cobblers. Calleghieri is Venetian expression for the shoemakers.

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The first church was erected here in the 11th century and was later on reconstructed several times. The current version dates from the 18th century, while the facade from the mid of 19th century. The brick work bell tower is most probably from the 12th century and has two thin Romanesque mullioned windows at the base. The interor of the church has rather sober walls.
The church of San Geremia is object of pilgrimages and wide devotion for the presence of the relics of Santa Lucia (St. Lucy).

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The church of San Vio is the smallest and the cutes church in Venice. It is also known as Chiesa di SS. Vito e Modesto, dedicated to a couple of Sicilian saints, San Vito and San Modesto. Originally the church was built in 912 and had much bigger proportions, but was demolished in 1813. This small church was built at the same spot, re-using material and decorative elements from the previous church.
Chiesa di SS. Vito e Modesto was open one day per year only, June 15, for St. Vito's feast day. Today it is a private property.