Tradition has it that this church was founded by St Magnus in the eighth century, but the present free-standing building - one of only two churches in the city that you can...

The word arsenale derives from the Arabic dar sina'a, meaning 'house of industry': the industry, and efficiency, of Venice's Arsenale was legendary: the arsenalotti could...

Often seen as the living testimony of Venice's links with Byzantium, St Mark's basilica is also an expression of the city's independence. In the Middle Ages any self-respecting...

In its 15th-century heyday, the façade of this pretty townhouse on the Grand Canal must have looked a psychedelic treat: the colour scheme was light blue and burgundy, with...

This grandiose palazzo was built in the second half of the 17th century for the Pesaro family, to a project by Baldassare Longhena. When Longhena died in 1682, the family...

At almost 99m (325ft), the Campanile is the city's tallest building, originally built between 888 and 912. Its present appearance, with the stone spire and the gilded angel on...

Officially the Casa di Goldoni e Biblioteca di Studi Teatrali (Goldoni's House and Library of Theatre Studies), this museum is really for specialists, though the attractive...

Sixteen of Venice's churches belong to the Chorus scheme. A year-long pass, valid for one visit to each, costs €9 (€6 reductions) and can be purchased in churches and at...

From behind the church of San Martino, on Burano, there is a view across the lagoon to the idyllic monastery island of San Franceso del Deserto. The island, with its 4,000...

There has been a Benedictine monastery here since 982, when Doge Tribuno Memmo donated the island to the order. The monastery continued to benefit from ducal donations,...

Officially Santa Maria di Nazareth, this church is better known as Gli Scalzi after the order of Carmelitani scalzi (Barefoot Carmelites) to whom it belongs. They bought the...

A gloomy Gothic barn, the brick house of God known officially as Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is one of the city's most significant artistic storehouses. The Franciscans were...

This church is officially Santa Maria del Rosario, but it is always known as the Gesuati, after the minor religious order that owned the previous church here. The order merged...

The Jesuits were never very popular in Venice, and it wasn't until 1715 that they felt secure enough to build a church here. Even then they chose a comparatively remote plot on...