Near the Arsenal in Venice’s Castello district, San Martino di Castello is a parish church with roots reaching back to at least 932. Its present building was designed by Jacopo Sansovino and constructed between 1546 and 1610. Inside, look for Jacopo Guarana’s fresco of Saint Martin in Glory, the baroque ceiling paintings and the funeral monument to Doge Francesco Erizzo. The church’s calm setting makes it a quieter stop among Castello’s sights. A charity shop operated by the church is another point of interest.
A parish church in Castello
San Martino di Castello stands near the Arsenal, in a district where the church once served dock workers. Its history reaches back to at least 932, though the original construction date is not certain. The parish’s limited means stretched work on the interior over many decades.
Jacopo Sansovino, known for his work on the Library and Loggetta in St Mark’s Square, supplied the design. The church was rebuilt between 1546 and 1610.
Frescoes and memorials
Inside, find Jacopo Guarana’s fresco Saint Martin in Glory and take time to examine the baroque ceiling paintings. The church also contains a funeral monument to Doge Francesco Erizzo, completed by Matteo Carneri.
The façade was added in 1897. It retains a Renaissance doorway and an old bocca di leone, a “lion’s mouth” box once used for anonymous reports of misdeeds to the Venetian government.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is San Martino di Castello?
The church is in Venice’s Castello district, near the Arsenal, at Fondamenta del Piovan o Erizzo, 2294.
What should I see inside San Martino di Castello?
Look for Jacopo Guarana’s Saint Martin in Glory, the baroque ceiling paintings and the funeral monument to Doge Francesco Erizzo.
Who designed the church?
Jacopo Sansovino supplied the design. The church was rebuilt between 1546 and 1610.
