Santo Stefano

Open: Mon-Sat: 10-17.
Map.

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The church of Santo Stefano was founded by the Augustinians circa 1264. Building began in 1294 and was completed circa 1325. The church was modernised in the early 15th century, when it was extended eastwards over an adjacent canal. In 1810 the monastery was suppressed and the church given parish status. 

The beautiful spray of Gothic foliage, which we see above the entrance to the church, was carved in the 1430s by the workshop of Bartolomeo Bon. 

The spacious interior comprises a nave, two aisles, a chancel (flanked by two chapels) and a retro-choir. The church's magnificent wooden 'ship's-keel' (carena a nave) ceiling is one of the few of its kind in Venice.

​The white and red colour scheme, carried out by the slender columns of Greek and red Verona marble, is characteristic of Venetian Gothic churches.

The walls of the nave are frescoed to simulate the pattern of decoration on the exterior of the Palazzo Ducale. Above the twelve pointed arches are images of Augustinians who have been canonised or beatified. 

Santo Stefano is the burial place of the composer Giovanni Gabrieli (1554-1612), whose tomb can be seen in front of the first altar in the left aisle. In the nave is the large and elaborate bronze floor tomb of Doge Francesco Morosini, the work of Filippo Parodi. (Morosini's family palace stands in the Campo Santo Stefano). 
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The monks' three cloisters survive. The two largest are now home to various departments of local government. The entrance to the main cloister is surmounted by a fine relief of Saint Augustine flanked by monks, possibly the work of Giovanni Buora and his workshop.

The sacristy (and adjacent cloister), which is reached off the south aisle, is used as a small museum (entrance fee). In addition to two paintings by Tintoretto, there are several statues worthy of note. The museum is also home to Canova's funerary stele of Giovanni Falier, the sculptor's first patron. 
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The detached campanile, which has a distinct inclination, was begun in the late 15th century and completed circa 1520.  

Santo Stefano

Bas-relief above the portal

Tombstone of Giovanni Gabrieli

Relief of Saint Augustine