San Moisè, Roman Catholic church in San Marco, Venice, Italy
San Moisè is a church in the San Marco district of Venice, known for its Baroque facade completed in 1668 and covered almost entirely in sculpture. The interior follows the layout of a typical Venetian parish church, with side chapels, a nave, and paintings by artists including Tintoretto.
The building was first erected in the 8th century under the name San Vittore Martire. A merchant named Moise Venier had it rebuilt in 947 and the church took his name from that point on.
The facade was paid for entirely by the Fini family as a monument to themselves, not a religious statement. Visitors who look closely can spot portraits of family members carved into the stone.
The church stands on Campo San Moisè, a short walk from St. Mark's Square. Visiting in the morning on a weekday gives you a better chance of seeing the interior without crowds.
John Law, the Scottish financier who introduced paper money to France and triggered a financial collapse, is buried inside this church. He died in Venice in 1729, far from the country whose economy he had upended.
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