Venice:Santa Croce:Churches

San Giacomo dall’Orio 1225
Ruskin said A most interesting church, of the early thirteenth century, but grievously restored. Its capitals have been already noticed as characteristic of the earliest Gothic; and it is said to contain four works of Paul Veronese, but I have not examined them. The pulpit is admired by the Italians, but is utterly worthless. The verde-antique pillar in the south transept is a very noble example of the "Jewel Shaft." Opening times Monday to Saturday: 10.00 to 5.00 Sundays: closed A Chorus Church Vaporetto: San Stae or Riva di Biasio
San Nicolo da Tolentino
		Ruskin said One of the basest and coldest works of the late Renaissance.
San Simeon Grande
This church has an unusually asymmetrical interior - the right-hand aisle is much wider than the left. A calm and pleasingly stony interior, but without any great art. Ruskin said Very important, though small, possessing the precious statue of St. Simeon. The rare early Gothic capitals of the nave are only interesting to the architect; but in the little passage by the side of the church, leading out of the Campo, there is a curious Gothic monument built into the wall, very beautiful in the placing of the angels in the spandrils, and rich in the vine-leaf moulding above.
San Simeon Piccolo Giovanni Antonio Scalfarotto, 1718-1738
Ruskin said One of the ugliest churches in Venice or elsewhere. Its black dome, like an unusual species of gasometer, is the admiration of modern Italian architects. The church in art Canaletto’s The Grand Canal with San Simeon Piccolo in London’s National Gallery shows the church with the black dome Ruskin hated. It does look better in green. Opening times Vaporetto Ferrovia Scaffold watch The church is as I write (October 2007) unfortunately covered in scaffolding which is, even more unfortunately, itself covered with a huge advertising hoarding.
San Stae Giovanni Grassi, Domenico Rossi 1678-1709
		The church in art Church of St. Stae, Venice by John Singer Sargent (see left) Opening times Monday to Saturday: 10.00 to 5.00 Sundays: closed A Chorus Church Vaporetto: San Stae
San Zan Degola
Opening times Monday to Saturday: 10.00 - 12.00 A guidebook I have from 1972 says that the church was then closed but you could ask the nuns in the convent next door to let you in. Vaporetto: San Stae or Riva di Biasio

Santa Maria Maggiore
This church is crumbling away picturesquely as a seemingly forgotten corner of the prison named after it, with the only new building a guard post on the top of a high wall attached to the back of the church.
Santa Maria Mater Domini Early Renaissance
		Opening times Monday to Saturday: 10.00-12.00 Vaporetto San Stae
Sant'Andrea della Zirada 15th/17th Centuries
History Called della Zirada from the Venetian word for bend, as the church stands at the bend formed by two canals. Traditionally said to have been founded in 1329 as the oratory of a hospice for poor women, founded by four Venetian noblewomen, Elisabetta Soranzo, Marianna Malipiero, Elisabetta Gradenigo and Francesca Cornaro. Convent and church rebuilt in the late 15th century and restored in the 17th. The church The façade is all that survives from the 1475 Gothic building. Portal of Istrian stone. Two 14th Century bas-reliefs (see below right) a Dead Christ and The Calling of Peter and Andrew, with details that excite Venetian boat buffs. Interior There's a barco (nun's gallery) over the door from the 15th Century, supported by column left over from the 14th Century church. The decoration on the barco was added in the 17th Century. Baroque altar 1679 by Juste Le Court Art A guidebook from the early 1970s mentions three paintings, including a Dead Christ between St. Charles Borromeo and Angels, by Domenico Tintoretto, as well as St. Augustine with Two Angels by Paris Bordone. The later it describes as 'humdrum'. It also mentions a St. Jerome by Paolo Veronese 'which must once have been very good'. From Virgins of Venice In 1596, at the convent of Sant' Andrea de Zirada the campanile was sealed up after accusations that the nuns had climbed to the top of the bell tower and flaunted themselves before the neighbourhood. Opening times Rarely Vaporetto Piazzale Roma
Santissimo Nome di Gesù Giannantonio Selva/Antonio Diedo 1815-34
		History Small neoclassical church begun by Selva in 1815, when the demolition of old ecclesiastical buildings was more common than the building of new ones. Completed strictly to the architect's plans after his death in 1822 (1819?) by Diedo. Adjoining convent. The remains of San Geminiano were transferred here from his name church which had just been demolished. Now dominated by flyover from Piazzale Roma. Interior Large ionic columns between barrel-vaulted nave and apse, an illuminated dome with a painted frieze by Borsato and sculptural niches. Ruskin said Of no importance. Opening times Rarely Vaporetto Piazzale Roma