Churches with art in Venice: Suggestions please

Venice churches with great painting (including only painting, not architecture and sculpture, and excluding those you already mentioned) include (not a complete list!):Frari ChurchSan Giorgio MaggioreChurch of San ZaccariaChurch of San PoloScuola San Rocco (I suppose technically not a church but it's called Tintoretto's Sistine Chapel, so I included it).

But I'm drawing a blank on your mention of Santa Maria dell' Orto? Do you mean the "Tintoretto Church", Madonna dell'Orto?

Since you specified churches, I haven't included the other well known art venues: the Accademia, Correr, Doge's Palace, Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' Pesaro, and so on.

Discovering Venice art in the churches can be a thrilling experience!

Kent, thank you, and yes, I did mean Madonna dell'Orto. Thanks for the correction. And yes, my question is specific to churches rather than galleries.

The Frari has a significant amount of art.
Chiesa San Sebastiano was Veronese's parish church where he had a number of commissions.

FWIW, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco has a definite church feel to it. However, if for some reason you're truly limited to churches only, there is a Chiesa di San Rocco with some Tintorettos right next door.

I love poking around churches too. Have always loved I Frari, with Titian's (Tiziano's) lovely Assumption at the altar and the beautiful carved wooden choir stalls. Right next door is the Scuola Grande de San Rocco, not a church, but a marvellous showcase of Tintoretto's genius. Also liked San Polo - there's a Last Supper by Tintoretto and the famous Stations of the Cross paintings by Giandomenico Tiepolo. I was surprised by Santa Maria del Rosario or Gesuati, in Dorsoduro facing the Giudecca Canal, which has a frescoed ceiling by Giambattista Tiepolo. Visited while parishioners were having their evening Rosary prayers which made it more atmospheric. Went to San Giorgio Maggiore for Palladio's architecture. I got a Chorus Pass at my first church stop, for 9 euros it covers admission to 16 churches, worthwhile if you're planning to visit 3 or more churches. One might also chance upon a concert in a church - look out for posters. If I had the time, I'd also have visited San Sebastiano (Veronese paintings), San Giacomo dall'Orio which has a ship's keel-shaped wooden ceiling, and yes, Madonno dell'Orto.

We, too have enjoyed visiting many churches in Venice. The Chorus pass is a good deal.

I wanted to mention a couple of smaller churches--Santa Maria de Miracoli which is filled with all kinds of beautiful marble patterns; this church was built entirely around a small and auspicious icon! Santa Maria de Formosa is interesting, too, because it was built based on a dream had by the priest--of Maria--Formosa (how shall I say--a rather well endowed Mary?)! The big churches with the famous art are incredible, but the small ones with their particular history are fascinating as well.

It is also great to see so much art displayed in the locations for which they were originally designed.

And if you are really interested in churches, take a trip out to Torcello, once the main city of Venice, and see the fine mosaics there.

Cheryl

Excellent suggestion of Torcello. I wasn't even thinking of the islands. The church on Torcello (which is a nice little walk from the vaporetto landing) has some medieval mosaics that are really cool. And it's kind of fun to get a glimpse of what Venice would have looked like right when it was first being built up - lots of marshes with reeds. But be aware that there's not much else to do or see on Torcello.

Actually if you can manage to be on Torcello near lunch or dinner time. The restaurant at the Locanda Cipriani would be an excellent spot to dine away from the crowds of Venice.

www.locandacipriani.com

If you are really into church and art history, consider a tour with the good folks from Context. We did this last March, and our teacher was a professor from the nearby university. There were 6 people in our group, which is typical. We left on an early vaporetto from Fondamente Nuova and stopped to see old churches in both Murano and Burano. But the Torcello mosaics, on this nearly uninhabited island covered with grass and artichoke fields, were quite fine.

Someone at our B & B said there was a very expensive gourmet restaurant on Torcello, but we just carried snacks and water and then stopped in Burano for lunch after our tour was over.

Context tours are not cheap, but they are personal and like taking a mini college class. Our teacher also answered other questions about Venice, and gave me directions to find the church featured in the book, Miss Garnet's Angel. I'd thought the church was fictional!

Cheryl

What wonderful responses. I guess I shouldn't have limited my question to churches. I was actually meaning, "other than galleries." I also liked the restaurant suggestion near the church and the reference to a novel. I know the story behind the restoration of Miracoli is mentioned in City of the Falling Angels.