San Zaccaria, Venice Church

Address: Campo San Zaccaria, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

San Zaccaria is a church on the waterfront at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, adjacent to the lagoon. The building combines Gothic and Renaissance features and is notable for its interior artworks and cloister connection to a former Benedictine convent.

Inside, visitors encounter significant Renaissance paintings and decorative programs, with the altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini among the most important works on display. The church’s layout includes a high altar, side chapels and a quiet cloistered area that reflects its monastic origins.

San Zaccaria was historically associated with a Benedictine convent and has undergone reconstructions in later medieval and Renaissance periods, producing the mix of architectural styles visible today.

The church sits on Venice’s central waterfront, a brief walk east from St. Mark’s Basilica and adjacent to the lagoon.

• Bellini altarpiece: the church houses the famous 1505 altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini, a major Renaissance work that is a principal attraction for art visitors.

San Zaccaria church is adjacent to the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop on the Riva degli Schiavoni, a short stroll from St. Mark’s Square. Take ACTV vaporetto line 1 or line 2 and disembark at San Zaccaria - the church is 1-2 minutes on foot from the stop.

Venice is car-free: arrive at Piazzale Roma and continue by vaporetto, water taxi, or on foot.

• Go early in the day before the St. Mark's area fills up - San Zaccaria is a short walk from Piazza San Marco and is much calmer first thing in the morning.
• Approach the church from the waterfront side for better photos of the façade and to avoid the main tourist flow from the piazza.
• Look for Giovanni Bellini's San Zaccaria altarpiece inside - it's one of the church's highlights and is often missed by visitors who only glance at the interior.