Angelo San Raffaele, Baroque church in Dorsoduro district, Venice, Italy
Angelo San Raffaele is a church built with a Greek cross floor plan, its facade facing a narrow waterway, and its interior containing paintings that tell biblical stories. The space combines architecture and artworks into a unified composition.
It was built between 1618 and 1639, replacing earlier structures that had burned down on multiple occasions. This reconstruction was part of how the neighborhood developed during the early modern period.
The church displays works by painters whose names appear throughout the city's grand buildings and galleries. The ceiling frescoes and painted organ doors reflect the artistic tastes of the Baroque period as you move through the space.
It sits near the San Basilio water bus stop and is one of very few religious buildings in Venice where you can walk all the way around the outside. The narrow canal setting lets you view all sides of the building.
The interior is lit by orange mesh curtains that shape how light enters the space in an unexpected way. These details create a distinctive impression as you step inside.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
