Chiesa di San Canciano

The church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli was built between 1481 and 1489 and is one of the earliest Renaissance buildings constructed in Venice. During the 16th century, interventions were made to the interior. The pilastered façade is divided into two orders, reversed from the classical canons of Vitruvius: the lower order, with Corinthian capitals, is architraved, while the upper order, Ionic, is composed of 5 blind arches. The façade is dominated by a large semi-circular pediment, decorated with a rose window, three oculi and two marble circles.

The date of construction of the Santi Apostoli dei Cristo is unknown but it is known that the building was completely rebuilt in 1021. It was almost completely rebuilt in 1105 after a fire that caused its complete ruin. In the 15th century, the architect Mauro Codussi added to the existing structure a portico on the side façade, the sacristy and the chapel of the Corner noble family. In 1575, the church was almost completely rebuilt: the load-bearing walls were reused and some of the 14th-century frescoes were preserved, as well as the Corner chapel. The architect Alessandro Vittoria was commissioned to carry out the work. The bell tower dates from 1672 but was completed by Andrea Tirali in the 18th century.

The Basilica of Saints John and Paul, known as San Zanipolo, a Venetian contraction of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, is one of the most imposing medieval religious buildings in Venice. It is considered the Pantheon of Venice because of the large number of doges and other important people who were buried there from the 13th century onwards. According to legend, the origins of the basilica are linked to a vision of the doge Jacopo Tiepolo who, after dreaming of a flight of doves over a marshy area, donated it in 1234 to the Dominicans, who had been present in the city for more than ten years. The church was immediately built. The work was completed in 1343, but the embellishment work lasted almost a century longer: on 14 November 1430, the church was solemnly consecrated.