Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo

A truly beautiful and serene church, with so much history linked to the Doges of Venezia. There is gorgeous art in the form of sculpture, paintings, wood carvings, and gilt. The magnificent stain glass window is the result of Murano craftsmanship and the many alters offer quiet corners for reflection. Entry is only €3.50 each, and comes with an audio guide QR code (our was in English). The guide does go a bit too fast through the different areas, so use the pause button if you want time to savour your location before moving on. A special thank you to Sam who was so very warm, welcoming and helpful!

Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo – Venice’s grand Pantheon of the Doges (May 11, 2025) This magnificent Gothic basilica in the Castello district is one of Venice’s most important churches and a true architectural masterpiece. Known as San Zanipolo, it was the final resting place of 27 Doges of Venice, whose ornate tombs and monuments line the interior, along with artworks by Veronese, Bellini, and other Venetian masters. The vast brick façade with its rose window, pointed arches, and statues of saints stands proudly on the wide Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, one of the largest squares in Venice. On a sunny May day, the light made the white marble details glow against the red brick, and the square was alive with people, pigeons, and the nearby equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni. Even just admiring the exterior is worth the visit — a beautiful, historic gem full of Venetian power and artistry. Highly recommended! ⛪🇮🇹

An amazing experience to go into this Basilica.The art is very impressive but the overall atmosphere and feel is mind blowing. I have an apartment in Venice since 10 years and fell ashamed I only find this church now - truly fantastic!

A wonderfully impressive cathedral filled with stunning carved monuments, as well as a beautiful stained glass windows. There are a number of very beautiful chapels and side rooms, with paintings by famous local artists.

I‘d recommend this Basilica. Beatiful archtecture… Catholic meets Venizian style… you can pay 3,50€ if you want and its very big, silent and quite beautiful. Please, don‘t miss the little rooms on the left side!

Honestly, I found this basilica more beautiful than the San Marco. Very quiet, you're free to walk around and the entrance fee is only a few euros.

Really enjoyed visit to the Basilica. It is right next to the hospital which also has an amazing entrance BTW. It's just 3.5 euro each to get in and you are met with an amazing and large area. There several little chapels off the main area. There are many works of religious art on the walls. Looks like some rich people also managed to get some tombs or statues or whatever rich people like spending money on in churches to be try to be remembered (I ignored all the names so they also failed). There is a crucifix with a kneeler in the centre. A reminder of what happened to a man who tried to spread peace. Such a shame that 2000 years later terror still reigns and bullies are still in control . The vaulted ceilings are fantastic, but the piece de resistance is the wonderful stained glass window. A mirror is provided to get an even closer look. Words don't really do the place justice so I have posted several pictures. Truly worth visiting.

For a very cheap ticket (3,50 Euros) you get to see a really gigantic church!

Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo is one of the more larger churches in Venice. Made of brick but the design is a lot more detailed then the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. The marble building attached to it is really neat. I liked the marble color and yellow trim. This church is not as popular as the other sites in Venice but worth a visit if you are walking around.

Smaller than many of the churches that charge an admission fee, Santi Giovanni e Paolo features a large amount of early Renaissance work in a concentrated space that is well maintained. Far less touristy than many, this shouldn't be a 'first choice' visit in Venice, but it certainly can be included in a tour without sacrificing much time or cost.