Venice, Italy

Church of San Zaccaria

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Last updated on August 26, 2024.

The Church of San Zaccaria (Chiesa di San Zaccaria) is a church in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice, Italy. It’s located in the district (sestiere) of Castello.

Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Church of San Zaccaria

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History

The Church of San Zaccaria was built between 1458 and 1490 but dates back to the 9th century. The original architect was Antonio Gambello but it was finished by Mauro Codussi. It replaced an older church built in 1170 that is next door to the current one.

The church was attached to a Benedictine monastery of nuns, most of whom came from noble Venetian families. These nuns had a reputation for partying and not being very “nunly”.

Nave

Admission to the church only is free. The nave is adorned with several important paintings by artists such as Giovanni Bellini, Tintoretto, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacopo Palma il Giovane.

Looking to the entrance at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Looking to the entrance

Altar at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Altar

You can also find the relics of St. Athanasius of Alexandria and St. Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist.

Relics of St. Athanasius (top) and St. Zacharias (bottom) at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Relics of St. Athanasius (top) and St. Zacharias (bottom)

Chapel of St. Athanasius

Through a door on the right side of the church you can enter the real highlights of the building. Admission is €3.50 (as of August 2024) or free for holders of the Chorus Pass. It’s open daily from 10am to 6pm. First is the Chapel of St. Athanasius (Capella di Sant’Atanasio). This was the nave of the original church built in 1170 and contains choir stalls carved by Francesco and Marco Cozzi. It was turned into a chapel in 1595.

Chairs at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Chairs

Choir stall at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Choir stall

The most important painting in this chapel is the Birth of Saint John the Baptist by Tintoretto.

Birth of Saint John the Baptist by Tintoretto at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Birth of Saint John the Baptist by Tintoretto

Chapel of Sorrows

Next is the small Chapel of Sorrows (Cappella dell’Addolorata) which contains cases of relics.

Chapel of San Tarasio

The Chapel of San Tarasio (Cappella di San Tarasio) was the apse of the 1170 church. The floor contains tiles from the 9th and 12th centuries. There are frescoes by Andrea del Castagno and Francesco da Faenza painted in 1442, discovered in 1923 and restored in the 1950s.

Apse of the Chapel of San Tarasio at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Apse

In the apse is a golden altarpiece made by Antonio Vivarini and Giovanni d’Alemagna in the 1440s. There are two more altarpieces on either side of the apse.

Altarpiece of the Chapel of San Tarasio at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Altarpiece

Left altarpiece of the Chapel of San Tarasio at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Left altarpiece

Right altarpiece of the Chapel of San Tarasio at the Church of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Right altarpiece

Crypt

Finally, a stairway leads down to the church’s crypt, which is spectacularly flooded by canal water. Inside are the tombs of eight Doges who ruled from 836 to 1172.

Campo San Zaccaria

The Church of San Zaccaria is located on Campo San Zaccaria.

Arch leading to Campo San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy — Arch leading to Campo San Zaccaria

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.