Located in the heart of Venice, right in Campo San Zaccaria and southeast of St. Mark’s Square, the Church of San Zaccaria is a monastic church built in the XV century in honor of the father of John the Baptist, St. Zechariah. Even though this destination is not very popular amongst tourists, this Church is easily eligible as one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and it surely deserves more attention.
Let’s find out something more about the Church of San Zaccaria and why you should visit it!
History and Transformation of the Church of San Zaccaria
The Church of San Zaccaria was not always like the church we see today. Before it turned into what it is now, there was another church on the site, created in the IX century by Doge Giustiniano Participazio as a mausoleum for St. Zechariah, whose body is buried under the second altar on the right. This Church also contains the remains of many different dodges in its crypt. The Campanile of the Church we see today was built in 1170, when the whole church was rebuilt. After this, it was rebuilt again in the XV century by Antonio Gambello in the Gothic style but it was completed, along with its interior, by Marco Codussi in the Renaissance style. Because of this, the facade of this Church is considered a mixture of late Gothic and Renaissance.
Artistic Treasures Within the Church of San Zaccaria
Mainly lit by very large Gothic windows, the interior of the Church of San Zaccaria consists of an apse and it contains some of the most beautiful works of art by great artists like Giovanni Bellini, Andrea del Castagno, Tintoretto, Giuseppe Porta, Antonio Zanichi, Andrea Celesti, Antonio Balestra, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Giuseppe Porta and many more.
The Monastery of San Zaccaria: A Place of Noble Origins
San Zaccaria Church used to be connected to a Benedictine monastery of nuns that was also created by Doge Giustiniano Participazio. This monastery mainly housed nuns from noble families. An interesting aspect about it is that to escape the Antipope Anastasius, Pope Benedict III was sheltered in this monastery and as a gift for the protection that the nuns had offered him, he gave them a collection of relics, amongst which we can find a piece of the True Cross.
Unfortunately, the monastery was destroyed in a fire in 1105 and over a hundred nuns died from smoke inhalation. After this, the convent became a Cluniac house thanks to Enrico Dandolo.
Visiting the Church of San Zaccaria
Visiting the Church of San Zaccaria is definitely a must if you happen to be in Venice. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking this architectural masterpiece and its interior for some of the best works of art you will ever see. If you want to get to know more about the city of Venice and Italy in general, make sure to check out our other blogs and, if you wish to fully dive into San Zaccaria Church, we highly suggest you book a Venice tour with us!
