Venice
Some History

Ca'Zen: The Frari’s Basilica temple of prayer and sacred art, is a church of considerable dimensions. As many other Franciscan churches, it was built spacious not for love of splendour, so contrary to the spirit of St. Francis, but in order to welcome the great number of believers wishing to listen to the evangelical message brought alive and real by the simple words and the edifying life of the " Saint of Assisi " and his disciples, made deeper by devotion, humility of heart and zeal of their behaviour.  Tiziano and Bellini are among the greatest artists who contributed to enrich the church with their important masterpieces. However, we can get you to enjoy only part of its beauty, although we will make our best to offer you the main works exhibited, trying to show up their magnificence. Actually what we really regret is the impossibility to share with you the deep sensation of peacefulness and high spirituality pervading us every time we enter the Basilica and our fulfillment after having talked with a friar. Should you ever come to Venice, remember that a visit to the Frari is a " Must ".
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Masena: Zattere“ and the „Squero“. The wide Fondamenta (foundation), called in the ancient times „Carbonaria“, because in that place there was a coal storage, is now one of the most attractive walk on the Canale della Giudecca. In 1519 it was paved and from that moment it took the name of „Zattere“, because in this place docked the rafts coming from the rivers with their barge-load of wood. Going on with this walk, one can come across the very picturesque Rio San Trovaso, characterised above all by the presence of an ancient “Squero”, the Venetian shipyard where the carpenters built the “gondolas”.
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Delle Mende: Situated in Calle delle Mende, in the neighbourhood of the more famous Campo San Vio, where on the right raised the ancient Church of St. Vito and Modesto, which the Doges and the Signoria visited every year the 15th June in memory of the repression of the conspiracy of Bajamonte Tiepolo (1310).Of the original Church, demolished in 1813, remain a Cross and some patere, now placed in the modern chapel raised here. In the middle of the square there is the little Evangelical Church.
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In Campo S. Stefano, one of the most famous in Venice, in the year 1802 there was the last "bull-hunting". In its neighbourhood there is the Campiello Pisani and the homonymous Pisani Palace, seat, since 1897, of the Civic Academy of Music, to-day called Benedetto Marcello Music Conservatory. S. Stefano Church is one of the most distinctive and noteworthy temples of the city. Erected in a first time by the S. Agostino’s Hermits during the XIII century, completely rebuilt in the XIV century, it had some new structural re-arrangements during the XV century and finally recovered its ancient splendour with the restorations of the XX century.
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Campo dei Carmini takes its name from the monastery of Santa Maria del Carmelo. It was built in 1286. But Campo dei Carmini is famous for the Otello’s House, the protagonist of the tragedy of Shakespeare
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Campo Sant’Aponal takes its name from the famous church situated in the middle of the square.
It was established in the 11th century from Ravennati.
The façade is a typical example of Gothic architecture.
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In Campo S. Stefano, one of the most famous in Venice, in the year 1802 there was the last “bull-hunting”. In its neighbourhood there is the Campiello Pisani and the homonymous Pisani Palace, seat, since 1897, of the Civic Academy of Music, to-day called Benedetto Marcello Music Conservatory. S. Stefano Church is one of the most distinctive and noteworthy temples of the city.
Erected in a first time by the S. Agostino’s Hermits during the XIII century, completely rebuilt in the XIV century, it had some new structural re-arrangements during the XV century and finally recovered its ancient splendour with the restorations of the XX century
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Ca'Salvioni: Towards the end of XV century, the Greeks living in Venice obtained permission to build a school and an adjoining church where they still attend orthodox religious services. The building is late Renaissance, with marked Sansovino influence. lt was begun in 1539. The interior is elegant and sumptuous, carefully and richly decorated and furnished. On the back wall: Roodscreen or Tempion according to the Greek rite, rich marble and painted decorations of Greek-Byzantine school. Byzantine mosaics and icons make this place particularly interesting and suggestive
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Ca' del Glicine: Zattere“ and the „Squero“. The wide Fondamenta (foundation), called in the ancient times „Carbonaria“, because in that place there was a coal storage, is now one of the most attractive walk on the Canale della Giudecca. In 1519 it was paved and from that moment it took the name of „Zattere“, because in this place docked the rafts coming from the rivers with their barge-load of wood. Going on with this walk, one can come across the very picturesque Rio San Trovaso, characterised above all by the presence of an ancient “Squero”, the Venetian shipyard where the carpenters built the “gondolas”.
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The Frari’s Basilic a temple of prayer and sacred art, is a church of considerable dimensions. As many other Franciscan churches, it was built spacious not for love of splendour, so contrary to the spirit of St. Francis, but in order to welcome the great number of believers wishing to listen to the evangelical message brought alive and real by the simple words and the edifying life of the " Saint of Assisi " and his disciples, made deeper by devotion, humility of heart and zeal of their behaviour. Tiziano and Bellini are among the greatest artists who contributed to enrich the church with their important masterpieces. However, we can get you to enjoy only part of its beauty, although we will make our best to offer you the main works exhibited, trying to show up their magnificence. Actually what we really regret is the impossibility to share with you the deep sensation of peacefulness and high spirituality pervading us every time we enter the Basilica and our fulfilment after having talked with a friar. Should you ever come to Venice, remember that a visit to the Frari is a "Must".