Venice - Dorsoduro

This church was founded as early as the seventh century but the present building, which is rather austere, dates from the 17th century.

Inside in the organ-loft is a series of pictures depicting the story of Tobias. These important 18th century paintings are by one of the Guardi brothers, but it is not clear whether the artist was Giovanni Antonio Guardi or his younger brother Francesco.

The Collezione Cini contains a collection of Tuscan art of the 13th-16th century; pictures, furniture, ivory carvings.

The Customs House was built by G. Benoni between 1676 and 1682 when the Senate hoped they could halt the decline in the Venetian economy by enforcing rigorous customs regulations. On the tip of the spire is a weathervane of Fortuna, seen standing on a gilded globe supported by two telamones.

This palace in the Dorsoduro district was built by the architect Antonio Gaspari between 1680 and 1685. The facade is Baroque, but in its plain structure the building shows elements of the Classical style.

The Gothic church with the tall 17th century Campanile dates from the 13th to the 14th century. Like the Scuola dei Carmini, it belonged to the Carmelites.

The interior has some very fine paintings, several in the nave showing scenes from the history of the Order. The "Adoration of the Shepherds" (early 16th century), one of Cima da Conegliano's most highly prized works, is at the second side-altar on the right, and Lorenzo Lotto's "St Nicholas and Saints" (early 16th century) is in the left-hand aisle.

This church is in fact dedicated to SS Gervase and Protase but their names were finally abbreviated to Trovaso. The interior is simple but it has several paintings by well-known artists: Tintoretto's "The Last Supper" (left transept) and "The Temptation of St Antony" (left choir chapel), and "St Chrysogonus" by Michele Giambono (right choir chapel).

The most important works of art in the church are the marble altar reliefs (right transept) by an unknown artist. They are thought to date from about 1470.