The church contains the tomb of the famous explorer Marco Polo’s father and uncle, though Marco Polo himself is likely buried elsewhere.
It holds the monumental tomb of Doge Andrea Vendramin, which includes sculpture work attributed to Tullio Lombardo.
The wooden ceiling consists of five large nave sections, an impressive structural feat for its time.
It houses the original 'San Pietro Martire' by Titian, although the painting was heavily restored after a fire.
The floor is composed of thousands of sepulchral slabs covering the remains of Venetian nobility.
The church's size was intended to rival the Basilica dei Frari as a Dominican statement of dominance in the city.
The equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni in the adjacent square is considered one of the finest Renaissance bronzes in Italy.
The Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, known as San Zanipolo in Venetian dialect, is the largest church in Venice and serves as the primary pantheon for the city's doges. Completed in 1430 after over a century of construction, the church is a masterpiece of Italian Gothic brick architecture. Its interior houses the funerary monuments of 25 doges alongside significant Renaissance artworks. Key highlights include Giovanni Bellini's polyptych of Saint Vincent Ferrer and the immense stained glass window, one of the few surviving examples from the 15th century in Venice. The church is under the care of the Dominican Order, who have occupied the site since the 13th century. Its sheer scale and austere brick facade contrast with the ornate internal displays of political and religious power. It remains an active parish church and a site of significant historical preservation.
The center of the square looking up at the facade, or the view from the bridge directly in front of the Scuola Grande di San Marco.
Purchase a Chorus pass if you plan to visit multiple associated churches to save on admission.
Visit the side chapels carefully, as some paintings are high up and benefit from the use of the coin-operated light systems.
Walk around the exterior to see the apse's complex brickwork, which is rarely crowded.
Avoid visiting during Sunday morning mass, as tourist access to the nave is restricted or prohibited.
Occasionally closed to tourists for private religious functions or special events; check official website for liturgical closures.
Shoulders and knees must be covered. Silence is strictly enforced during religious services.
