In Venice’s San Marco district, Chiesa di Santo Stefano brings Gothic and Renaissance design together in a large church with a distinctive leaning campanile. Inside, look for works by Venetian artists including Tintoretto and Paolo Veneziano, along with a vaulted ceiling shaped like an overturned boat. The church is a quieter stop away from the main tourist paths. Its sacristy houses an art museum, accessible with a Chorus Pass, and a navigable canal runs beneath the altar, though the passage is for kayaks, not boats.
A church rebuilt over the centuries
The church was founded in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 14th. It was later built to replace the oldest church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Its history is visible in a structure that brings together Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
The campanile, artworks and canal
The campanile leans as its foundations sink into the soft ground beneath Venice’s lagoon islands. Inside, the church holds works by Venetian artists, including Tintoretto and Paolo Veneziano. The vault’s upturned-boat shape is another detail to look for.
The sacristy contains an art museum, for which a Chorus Pass can be purchased. A canal also passes beneath the church’s altar. Kayaks can use it, except when the tide is especially high; boats cannot pass through.
FAQ
Where is Chiesa di Santo Stefano?
It is in Venice’s San Marco district, at Fondamenta Narisi.
What can you see inside Chiesa di Santo Stefano?
Look for works by Tintoretto and Paolo Veneziano, as well as a vault shaped like an overturned boat. The sacristy contains an art museum.
Can you kayak beneath Chiesa di Santo Stefano?
A navigable canal passes beneath the altar and kayaks can use it. The passage is not suitable for boats, and kayaks cannot pass when the tide is especially high.
