Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

102  NOR THEAST IT AL Y

8 Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

More commonly known as the Frari (a corruption of frati,
meaning “brothers”), this vast Gothic church dwarfs the eastern
area of San Polo. The first church on the site was built by
Franciscan friars in 1250–1338, but was replaced by a
larger building completed in the mid-15th century.
The airy interior is striking for its sheer size and for
the quality of its works of art, including masterpieces
by Titian and Giovanni Bellini, a statue by
Donatello and several grandiose tombs.

. Monks’ Choir
This consists of three-tiered
stalls (1468), carved with bas-
reliefs of saints and Venetian
city scenes.

. Assumption of
the Virgin
Titian’s glowing and
spectacular work
(1518) draws the
eye through the
monk’s choir, to
the altar, and
heavenwards.

Rood Screen (1475)
Pietro Lombardo
and Bartolomeo
Bon carved the
KEY rood screen and
its decorative
1 The campanile is 83 m (262 ft) marble figures.
high, the tallest in the city after that
of San Marco.
2 The former monastery, which
houses the State Archives, has
two cloisters: one in the style of
Sansovino, another designed
by Palladio.
3 The Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro
(1526) shows Titian’s mastery of
light and colour.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp562–5 and pp580–84

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