Venice - San Zaccaria

San Zaccaria was probably founded in the ninth century. The present church was built between 1444 and 1500 by the two great master builders Antonio Gambello and Mauro Coducci. The huge facade is an astounding example of the transition from Gothic to Early Renaissance architecture. It is the most important work of the Venetian Renaissance before it lost its individuality with Sansovino and adopted the forms of the mainland. The Campanile is still Byzantine, the choir still Gothic and the nave is in the style of the early Renaissance.

Of especial interest are Giovanni Bellini's "Enthroned Madonna with Saints" dating from 1505 (second side-altar on the left) and Andrea del Castagno's frescoes (1452) in the Cappella di San Tarasio. San Zaccaria was considered the rowdiest of all the convents in the rowdy city of 18th century Venice. The riotous parties held in the convent and the love-affairs indulged in by the nuns were the talk of the town. This was because most of San Zaccaria's nuns were the daughters of noble families sent there against their will to save the expense of dowries. Cheated out of their lives they found their own way of avenging themselves.