San Moisè, Venice

San Moisè, Venice tickets: which one to buy

San Moise stands on a small campo on the busy shopping street that leads west from Piazza San Marco towards La Fenice, in the heart of Venice, and entry is free. Its extravagant baroque facade surprises everyone who walks past, and many visitors photograph it without going in. The church keeps limited opening hours, usually in the late afternoon, and it is used for services, so check the times posted at the door.

Walking tours of San Marco point it out as one of the most flamboyant examples of Venetian baroque architecture. The Hotel Bauer, with its modern facade, stands beside it, a striking contrast. The canal behind the church is a popular spot for gondola rides. La Fenice opera house is a few minutes' walk away. A visit to the church takes only a few minutes. Photography inside is discouraged during services but allowed at other times.

Visiting San Moisè, Venice: what to see

The church was founded in the eighth century and dedicated to Saint Victor, and later to Moses, venerated as a saint in the Venetian tradition. The present facade was built in 1668 by Alessandro Tremignon, with sculpture by Heinrich Meyring, and paid for by the Fini family, whose members are celebrated in statues and busts all over it; the facade honours the family more than God, and critics from John Ruskin onwards have condemned it as vulgar. It is covered with columns, garlands, statues and carvings, including a camel representing the travels of the family. Inside, the church is dark and ornate.

Behind the high altar, a large sculptural group shows Mount Sinai, with Moses receiving the tablets of the law, a remarkable baroque creation by Meyring. The church also holds paintings by Tintoretto and Palma il Giovane, and the tomb of John Law, the Scottish financier, is set in the floor. The Mount Sinai sculpture behind the altar is carved from Istrian stone and rises almost to the ceiling, with figures of Moses and angels. The sacristy holds a bronze altar frontal and paintings. The pulpit is carved with vines and cherubs. The organ, in a painted case, dates from the eighteenth century.

San Moisè, Venice opening hours and the best time to go

The church opens mainly in the late afternoon and for services, with limited hours; the facade can be admired at any time and is lit in the evening. Venice is very busy from spring to autumn and during Carnival, and the streets around San Marco are crowded. Early morning is the best time to see the facade without crowds, and the light is good.

Acqua alta can flood the area around San Marco in autumn and winter. La Fenice offers guided tours during the day and performances in the evening. Allow about ten minutes for the facade and the interior, and continue to Campo Santo Stefano and the Accademia. Harry's Bar, where the Bellini cocktail was invented, is at the end of the street by the Grand Canal.