Temples & religious sites
Il Redentore
The Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore, commonly known as Il Redentore, is a 16th-century Roman Catholic church located on Giudecca (island) in the sestiere of Dorsoduro, in the city of Venice, Italy.
What it is
Il Redentore is a late 16th-century church designed by Andrea Palladio, built by the Venetian Republic as a votive offering after a devastating plague. It stands on the Giudecca waterfront, facing the Bacino di San Marco across the water. Travellers come for Palladio's architecture — a strict, classically proportioned facade and a calm, uncluttered interior — and for the quieter, more residential feel of Giudecca compared to central Venice.
Getting there
From central Venice, take a vaporetto (line 4.1 or 4.2) to the Redentore stop; the crossing from near San Marco or Zattere takes roughly 10-15 minutes. There's no bridge access to this part of Giudecca from the main islands, so a boat is the only practical option.
Time to allow
The church itself can be seen in 20-30 minutes. If you also want to walk along the Giudecca waterfront or stop for a coffee, allow an hour or more.
When to go
The church is rarely crowded, since most visitors stay on the other side of the canal. Mornings tend to have better light for photos of the facade against the water. One notable exception is mid-July, when the Festa del Redentore brings a temporary bridge of boats across the canal and large crowds for the fireworks — worth knowing whether you want to join in or avoid it.
Combine it with
- Giudecca (0.3km) - the island itself, easily explored on foot along the same waterfront.
- Santa Maria della Salute (0.6km) - a short vaporetto or walk away, another major church worth pairing with this one.
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection (0.7km) and Gallerie dell'Accademia (0.8km) - both within reach on the Dorsoduro side, making it easy to combine art and architecture in a single outing.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
