Santa Sofia, Venice, Romanesque church in Cannaregio, Venice, Italy

Santa Sofia is a church in Cannaregio whose basilical interior has three naves separated by round arches, with a dome at the crossing. Four marble statues of saints from the circle of Antonio Rizzo, carved in the second half of the 15th century, stand beside the entrance and the main altar. The building is screened by houses along the Strada Nova.

The church was founded in 1020 and went through several rebuilding phases, including major work by architect Antonio Gaspari in the late 17th century. Temporarily used as a warehouse during the Napoleonic era, it returned to Catholic services in 1836.

The name refers to Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, a dedication shared with churches in Constantinople and Kiev. The four marble saints beside the entrance and the main altar, from the circle of Antonio Rizzo and carved in the later 1400s, came from the demolished Santa Maria dei Servi. The composer Benedetto Marcello loved this church and asked that his funeral be held here.

The church stands on the Campo Santa Sofia along the Strada Nova, but its lower facade and bell tower are screened by houses, so the entrance is reached through a vestibule set between them. Look for the bell tower rising above the rooftops to locate it. Access has been intermittent since the building's 19th-century vicissitudes, so confirm opening times before setting out.

Four marble statues of saints—Luke, Andrew, Cosmas and Damian—stand beside the entrance and the main altar. They come from the circle of Antonio Rizzo, carved in the second half of the 15th century, and were moved here from the demolished church of Santa Maria dei Servi.