Church of Saint Cassian

Beautiful church like almost all churches that are in Venice

Beautiful establishment set in an amazing location- nothing but jaw dropping-

Another of one of the many many churches in Venice but in a largely non tourist part of city

Great design and elegantly built. Good sign of Christian strength and religious tradition.

Beauty beyond description. It is best to just sit in one of the pews and meditate while taking in all of its beauty.

Lovely :) And it givied me the sense of peace ?

Quite an ornate and interestingly designed church with some access to the backrooms which one doesn't usually get to see and eclectic design mix of features. Well worth a visit.

The beauty of the church and its significance delighted us. Far from the usual sightseeing, in the San Polo district (sestiere), the oldest in Venice, keeps some precious treasures including these baroque St Cassiano Church (founded in the 9th century). The church is located on the Campo San Cassiano, the site of the world's first public opera house, west of the Rialto Bridge and is open to visitors Tuesday-Saturday mornings. The earliest church on this site was built in 726 and dedicated to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians and music. Over the centuries there have been several reconstruction projects, including one following a fire in 1106, and a major rebuild which commenced in 1350. The present church is dedicated to Saint Cassian of Imola being consecrated in 1376 and re-modeled during the 17th century. Unlike many churches in Venice it has no facade and overall the exterior is plain and unadorned. A feature which may possibly have been retained from the original church is the door jambs or doorposts, which date back to the Byzantine era. Entry to the church is usually through a side door in the wall facing the Campo San Cassiano. In contrast to the plain exterior, the church’s interior is highly decorated in the Baroque style. The interior of the church is sumptuous in its beauty and breathtaking. The altarpiece, for example, is one of the undisputed masterpieces of the great painter Jacopo Tintoretto: The Crucifixion. Painted in 1568, it is an extraordinary work both for the incredible use of color and for the originality of the scenery and the dramatic intensity expressed by the figures. The art critic John Ruskin described the latter as, "the finest (example of a Crucifixion painting) in Europe". Jacopo Tintoretto Venetian genius painted two more masterpieces in this church and these are “The Descent into Limbo” and “The Resurrection”. This Tintoretto's Resurrection was painted in defiance of the Council of Trent's demand that all depictions of the resurrection feature a standing, rather than hovering, Christ figure. Adjacent to the sacristy, and which is a bit hard to find (just ask the pastor to ignite the light!), There is the beautiful chapel dedicated to St Charles Borromeo. Built in 1746 by the abbot Carlo dal Medico, it is a little gem of Rococo art.