Church of San Clemente, Renaissance church on San Clemente island, Venice, Italy.

The Church of San Clemente is a single-nave Romanesque church with a transept and apse, founded in 1131 on San Clemente Island. Its facade was rebuilt in the Lombard Renaissance style after 1432, divided by lesenes and cornices. The Morosini family funded the 1652 facade work by Andrea Cominelli, which includes reliefs of battles against the Turks and statues of Saints Benedict and Romuald.

The church was founded in 1131 when merchant Pietro Gattilesso funded its construction along with a hospice for pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. These origins show its initial role as a stopping point and spiritual center for travelers.

The church preserves relics of Saint Anianus, the first successor of Saint Mark as patriarch of Alexandria, brought there in 1288. This connection to early Christian history makes the place meaningful for pilgrims and the faithful.

To visit the building, you need to take a boat or water taxi since the island is only accessible by water. Plan extra time since connections are limited and weather can affect the crossing.

The facade reliefs by sculptor Andrea Cominelli, added in 1652, show the Morosini brothers' battles against the Turks and carry the family coat of arms above the main door. Two upper niches hold statues of Saint Benedict and Saint Romuald, founder of the Camaldolese order.