This sestiere has 10 churches, including one of the greatest of all. The Frari is one to visit over and over – I can’t imagine being in Venice and not going to see the Bellini altarpiece and those gorgeous Titians (Titian's Pesaro altarpiece to the left).
San Giacometto is a very charming little church nestled in the midst of the Rialto Market; this is probably the site of the first church in Venice, built around 421. San Cassiano has three Tintorettos which John Ruskin thought were among the artist’s finest works anywhere. The high altar of San Giovanni Elemosinaro has a nice Titian that was recently returned to the church from the Accademia.
Chorus Pass churches are the Frari, San Giovanni Elemosinaro, and San Polo.
Churches in San Polo
Frari (Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari)
San Cassiano
San Giacometto (San Giacomo di Rialto)
San Giovanni Elemosinario
San Giovanni Evangelista
San Polo (San Paolo Apostolo)
San Rocco
San Silvestro
San Toma (San Tommaso Apostolo)
Sant’Aponal
I’ve been in 8 of 10 these; the two I’m missing are San Toma and Sant’Aponal which are deconsecrated and seem to be permanently closed.
The church of San Rocco is a blur because both times I’ve visited it, I’d just come out of the scuola next door and was in complete and utter Tintoretto overload. Next time, I’m going to visit the church first.
