Venice - Santa Maria del Rosario

(Local Name: Chiesa dei Gesuati) In the 15th century the church belonged to the Guild of the Poveri Gesuati (whose name it has retained) but was taken over by the Dominicans who had the present building erected in 1726-36 by the master-builder Giogio Massari. It is a gem of 18th century Venetian architecture; a large room with side-chapels and a facade reminiscent of Palladio.

There are ceiling frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo - "The Ascent into Heaven of St Dominic", "The Introduction of the Rosary by Mary", "St Dominic giving a Blessing", and the painting "Madonna in Glory".

The altar-pieces "St Dominic" (ca. 1743; second altar on the right) and "Dominicans" (third altar on the right) are by Piazzetta; Sebastiano Ricci was responsible for the altar-piece "Pope Pius V and Saints" (ca. 1732-34; first altar on the left) and Tintoretto painted "The Crucifixion" (third altar on the left).