Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo

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.

Beautiful church! There is a small fee to enter. The staff members Sam and Fra Giuseppe were super friendly and helpful! I bought a rosary and Fra was so kind to interrupt his work to bless it with a beautiful prayer. The architecture and art are beautifully displayed throughout on the various alters. We found relics on display including a foot of Saint Catherine of Siena. This was a pleasant surprise and another jewel in the Venice . I highly recommend a visit!

Simply put, this is the largest church in Venice. Step inside, and the vastness and serenity feel almost otherworldly. Its immense scale means there’s no shortage of art to uncover at every turn, from intricate marble altars and vibrant frescoes to majestic cupolas, stained glass windows, patterned floors, and grand tombs.

Beautiful basilica! We were lucky to join during an organ recital

Dear reader, I am a tour guide that visited the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo last Wednesday, November 5th 2025, with a group of Belgian tourists (19 people). Upon entering the Basilica, we were greeted by Sam at the pay booth. Not only was Sam very friendly, he also took the time to give us a quick tour of the Basilica, providing my group with some interesting information about the different artifacts. I would like to thank Sam again for his hospitality & willingness for sharing his knowledge, & would like to let you know that an employee such as Sam is a worthy ambassador of your congregation. I will be back in couple of days, visiting the Basilica once again with a different group of Belgian tourists. I am truly looking forward meeting Sam again, hoping that again, he will be so helpful. Kind regards, Ray DE LOOSE, Belgian tour guide for "De Blauwe Vogel" (one of the leading tour operators in Belgium)

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.