Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

132  VENICE AREA B Y AREA

9 San Sebastiano
Campo San Sebastiano. Map 5 C3.
Tel 041 275 04 62. 4 San Basilio.
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat.
Closed 1 Jan, Easter, 15 Aug, 25 Dec.
& ^ 9 ∑ chorusvenezia.org
This 16th-century church has
one of the most colourful and
homogeneous interiors of
Venice. This is thanks to the
artist Veronese, who, from 1555
to 1560 and again in the 1570s,
was commissioned to decorate
the sacristy ceiling, the nave
ceiling, the frieze, the east end
of the choir, the high altar, the
doors of the organ panels and
the chancel – in that order. The
paintings, which are typical of
Veronese, are rich and radiant,
with sumptuous costumes and
colours. Among the finest of his
works are the three ceiling
paintings that tell the story
of Esther, Queen of Xerxes I of
Persia, who brought about
the deliverance of the Jewish
people. Appropriately, the artist
is buried in San Sebastiano,
alongside the organ.
Nave of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, one of the oldest churches in Venice 0 Zattere
7 San Nicolò dei interior is richly embellished,
Mendicoli particularly the nave with its Map 5 C4. 4 Zattere or San Basilio.
16th-century gilded wood Stretching along the southern
Campo San Nicolò. Map 5 A3.
Tel 041 275 03 82. 4 San Basilio. statues. On the upper walls is part of the sestiere, the Zattere
Open 10am–noon, 3–5:30pm Mon– a series of paintings of the life is the long quayside looking
Sat, 9am–noon Sun & public hols. of Christ by Alvise dal Friso and across to the island of Giudecca.
other pupils of Veronese. The name derives from the rafts
Contrasting with the remote and (zattere) made of and carrying
run-down area that surrounds it, timber from the Republic’s
this church remains one of the 8 Angelo Raffaele forests. After skilful navigation
most charming and delightful Campo Angelo Raffaele. Map 5 B3. along the River Piave, the rafts
in Venice. Originally constructed Tel 041 522 85 48. 4 San Basilio.
in the 12th century, it has been Open 10am–noon, 3–5:30pm Mon–
rebuilt extensively over the Sat, 9am–noon Sun & public hols.
centuries; the little porch on
the north flank dates from the The main attraction of this
15th century. 17th- century church is the
Thanks to the Venice in Peril series of panel paintings on
Fund, in the 1970s the church the organ balustrade. These
underwent one of the most were executed in 1749 by
comprehensive restoration Antonio Guardi, brother of
programmes since the floods the more famous Francesco.
of 1966 (see p54). The floor, They tell the tale of Tobias,
which was 30 cm (1 ft) below the blind prophet cured
the level of the canals, was by the archangel
rebuilt and raised slightly to Raphael, after whom
prevent further damage, the the church is named.
roofs and lower walls were
reconstructed, and paintings San Sebastiano, viewed from
and statues restored. The the bridge of the same name

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