Temples & religious sites
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Known locally as San Zanipolo, this is one of the largest Gothic churches in Venice and the traditional burial place of many doges, whose monumental tombs line the interior walls. It's a working Dominican church, so travellers go for the funerary sculpture, the scale of the brick Gothic architecture, and the Zanipolo square outside with its equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni by Verrocchio.
Getting there
From central Venice (San Marco), it's roughly a 15-20 minute walk through the Castello sestiere, or a short vaporetto ride to the Fondamente Nove or Ospedale stop, from which the church is a couple of minutes on foot. There's no need to arrange transport from the airport (VCE) specifically for this site — it fits into a normal day of walking around the city.
Time to allow
Most visitors spend around 30-45 minutes inside, longer if you want to study the tomb monuments in detail.
When to go
Mornings tend to be quieter. The church can draw tour groups given its size and central location, so arriving early or later in the day makes it easier to view the interior without crowds. The square in front is a normal thoroughfare, so it's rarely empty at any time.
Combine with
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli (0.3km) — a short walk away, useful to pair on the same route.
- San Francesco della Vigna (0.5km) — another Castello church within easy walking distance.
- San Zaccaria (0.5km) — on the way toward San Marco if heading back that direction.
- Rialto Bridge (0.5km) — a reasonable link if continuing on toward San Polo.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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