Page 423 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

VENICE  421

The sacristy alterpiece, The
Madonna and Child (1488) by
Bellini, with its sublime use of
color, is one of Venice’s most
beautiful Renaissance paintings.
The main altarpiece is The
Assumption of the Virgin, a
spectacular, glowing work by
Titian (1518), which draws the
eye through the Renaissance
rood screen to the altar. Between
the altar and the screen is the
Monks’ Choir (1468), its three-
tiered stalls lavishly carved with
saints and Venetian city scenes. View across the Grand Canal to the Pescheria (fish market)
The Tomb of Canova, a marble,
pyramid-shaped tomb, was built Accademia. After passing the 14th century, it is striking for
after Canova’s death in 1822 by Rialto, the canal doubles back its vast scale and architectural
his pupils. It is similar to a design on itself along a stretch known austerity. Known as the
Canova himself had planned for as La Volta (the bend). It then Pantheon of Venice, it houses
a memorial for Titian. The Titian widens out and the views monuments to no fewer than
monument in the shape of a become more spectacular 25 doges. Among these are
triumphal arch that stands approaching San Marco. several fine works of art,
opposite was built by two of Facades may have faded and executed by the Lombardi
Canova’s pupils in 1853. foundations rotted, yet the family and other leading
canal remains, in the words sculptors. Pietro Lombardo
of the French ambassador created the magnificent
in 1495, “the most beautiful tombs of the doges Nicolò
street in the world.” Marcello (died 1474) and
Pietro Mocenigo (died 1476).
7 Santi Giovanni His masterpiece, the Tomb
e Paolo of Andrea Vendramin (died
1478), takes the form of a
Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo (also Roman triumphal arch.
signposted San Zanipolo). Tel 041- The main doorway, which is
523 59 13. 4 Fondamenta Nuove decorated with Byzantine reliefs
or Ospedale Civile. Open daily. and carvings, is one of Venice’s
Closed Sun am for mass. 7 = earliest Renaissance architectural
works. On the right as you
Known colloquially as San enter the church is a polyptych
High altar of the Frari church with Titian’s Zanipolo, Santi Giovanni e by Giovanni Bellini (c.1465)
Assumption of the Virgin Paolo vies with the Frari as the showing St. Vincent Ferrer,
city’s greatest Gothic church. a Spanish cleric, flanked by
6 Grand Canal Built by the Dominicans in the St. Sebastian and St. Christopher.
4 1 from Ferrovia and many others.
The Gondolas of Venice
The best way to view the Grand The gondola has been a part of Venice since the 11th century. With
Canal as it winds through the its slim hull and flat underside, the craft is perfectly adapted to
heart of the city is from a negotiating narrow, shallow canals. There is a slight leftward curve
vaporetto, or water bus. Several to the prow, which counteracts the force of the oar, preventing
lines travel the length of the the gondola from going
canal. The palaces lining the around in circles.
waterway were built over a In 1562, it was decreed
span of five centuries and that all gondolas should
present a panoramic survey be black to stop people
of the city’s history, almost all making an ostentatious
bearing the name of some show of their wealth. For
once-great Venetian family. special occasions they
Nearly 4 km (2.5 miles) long, were decorated with
flowers. Today, gondola
the canal varies in width from rides are expensive and
30 to 70 m (100 to 230 ft) and usually taken by tourists.
is spanned by three bridges, Gondolas moored in a Venice canal
the Scalzi, the Rialto, and the

420-421_EW_Europe.indd 421 14/07/16 10:45 am