As a descendent of Byzantium, Venice would develop an art strongly influenced by the eastern capital of the Empire. When the Renaissance began to spread, in Venice it took on its unusual characteristics thanks to the works of Giovanni Bellini, Titian, Jacopo Tintoretto and Paolo Veronese.
We’ll start our visit at the renowned Church of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari which contains masterpieces such as Titian’s Assumption and Pesaro Altarpiece, Donatello’s John the Baptist and Giovanni Bellini’s Pesaro Triptych.
Next to the Frari is the Scuola di San Rocco, Jacopo Tintoretto’s masterpiece. The great artist worked on decorating this confraternity for 24 years of his life and, incredibly, the building did not suffer sacking during the French occupation. It also offers a rare chance to admire a perfectly preserved sixteenth-century interior.
We will then move on to the Church of San Sebastiano, decorated with frescoes and canvases by Paolo Veronese, who is also buried here. The church was recently restored thanks to the generous contribution of Save Venice.
