Venice - San Polo

The birthplace of 18th century Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni, the house contains personal memorabilia as well as interesting exhibits on theater history. This is also the site of a theater institute.

Built in the 17th century Palazzo Mocenigo-Nero is one of a group of palaces which all belonged to the aristocratic Moncenigo family. Seven members of the family held the office of Doge of Venice between 1414 and 1778 and thus left their mark on Venetian history. Adjoining the Palazzo Moncenigo-Nero is a double palace where Byron lived in 1818 and 1819. The oldest Moncenigo palace is the Casa Vecchia (1579) in Late Renaissance style.

Although the present church was only built in 1836-43, the foundation goes back to the ninth century. The Classical facade was completed in 1909. Over the first side altar on the right can be seen the monumental painting "The Baptism of Christ" (1580) by Jacopo Tintoretto. In contrast to his picture on the same biblical subject in the Scuolo di San Rocco, this painting is confined to a personal meeting between John the Baptist and Christ, who is illuminated by the dove of the Holy Spirit.

This palace, situated on the broad mouth of the Rio Foscari, was built in 1582-1590 to the plans of Alessandro Vittorio. The facade reveals characteristic features of Mannerism, the transitional architectural style between late Renaissance and early Baroque, expressed in the arrangement of double columns in the arcades, pierced gables and oval window openings. Since 1973 the Palace has been occupied by the central administration of Venice.