San Bartolomeo

San Bartolomeo is a Catholic church located directly next to the Rialto Bridge, featuring a single-nave layout with a dome crowning the crossing. The interior displays paintings by Sante Peranda and contains an eighteenth-century high altar designed by Bernardino Maccaruzzi.

The church was founded in 840 and originally dedicated to Saint Demetrios before receiving its current dedication to Saint Bartholomew in 1170 under Doge Domenico Selvo. This rededication reflected changing patterns of devotion in Venice during the medieval period.

The church served as a spiritual center for German merchants and their families who lived and worked in the surrounding quarter, with its proximity to the Fondaco dei Tedeschi reinforcing its role in their daily religious life.

The church is easily reached from Campo San Bartolomeo, though it sits surrounded by buildings in a densely developed quarter of the city. The square in front is quite small and fills with crowds, so visiting during quieter hours provides a better experience.

The interior contains sculptures by Enrico Merengo that are subtly integrated into the spatial design and often overlooked by visitors. These artistic details add a distinctive visual quality to the church space.