San Zulian, Renaissance church in Merceria, Venice, Italy
San Zulian is a Renaissance church standing alone on a curve of the Merceria, with a classical temple front made of Istrian stone. The interior is organized with a single wide space and side chapels that lead toward the altar area.
The church was first built in 832 and later rebuilt before Jacopo Sansovino designed its current form between 1553 and 1570. His redesign transformed it into a fine example of Renaissance architecture in Venice.
The interior holds paintings by Palma the Younger, Paolo Veronese, and Leonardo Corona that decorate the walls with religious scenes. These works reflect the artistic quality that Venice valued during the Renaissance period.
The church sits directly on the Merceria, one of Venice's main shopping streets, making it easy to reach on foot. Although located on a busy street, the entrance offers a calm transition away from the bustle of the shopping area.
A bronze portrait of Tommaso Rangone sits above the entrance showing him holding medicinal plants used to fight syphilis and yellow fever. This unusual monument commemorates an important Renaissance physician and benefactor of Venice.
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