
Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo (Church of St. Simeon the Lesser), Venice
San Simeone Piccolo stands prominently in Venice, directly opposite the train station, making it impossible to miss. Designed by Giovanni Scalfarotto in 1718, it is one of the last churches built in Venice, showcasing the emerging eclecticism of Neoclassical architecture. Its architectural influence draws from both Rome's Pantheon, evident in its façade and layout, and the grandeur of Santa Maria della Salute church, reflected in the striking exaggeration of its dome.
As you approach the entrance, your attention is captured by the pediment adorned with a marble relief depicting 'The Martyrdom of the Saints', an artwork crafted by Francesco Penso. This portrayal refers to the martyrdom of Saint Simon, believed to be the cousin of Christ, who met his fate at the hands of the Romans due to his Jewish heritage. Inside the church, venture along the long corridors to discover an underground crypt housing an altar. Venturing down there may result in a dimly lit environment where a candle becomes your sole source of illumination; however, for those seeking an extraordinary and adventurous experience, it's a rather unique opportunity.
As you approach the entrance, your attention is captured by the pediment adorned with a marble relief depicting 'The Martyrdom of the Saints', an artwork crafted by Francesco Penso. This portrayal refers to the martyrdom of Saint Simon, believed to be the cousin of Christ, who met his fate at the hands of the Romans due to his Jewish heritage. Inside the church, venture along the long corridors to discover an underground crypt housing an altar. Venturing down there may result in a dimly lit environment where a candle becomes your sole source of illumination; however, for those seeking an extraordinary and adventurous experience, it's a rather unique opportunity.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Venice. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ϳԹ: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo (Church of St. Simeon the Lesser) on Map
Sight Name: Chiesa di San Simeone Piccolo (Church of St. Simeon the Lesser)
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Venice, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Venice
Creating your own self-guided walk in Venice is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Piazza San Marco Walking Tour
All of Venice’s roads seem to run into Piazza San Marco – the commercial, religious, and political heart of the city. With a glowing reputation as one of the finest squares in the world and arguably one of Europe’s primary tourist attractions, it certainly has a lot to offer to visitors.
Start your exploration with a tour of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale, which takes you... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Start your exploration with a tour of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale, which takes you... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Grand Canal Walking Tour
The main waterway in Venice, Grand Canal snakes in an "S" shape through the center of the city, dividing its main districts. On both sides of this thoroughfare are the most beautiful buildings dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries that tell the story of a thousand years of Venetian splendor. While one can view the architectural parade from water buses, our self-guided walking tour... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Venice's Hidden Art Treasures
Among the first things springing to mind when talking about Venice, apart from the canals and gondolas, of course, is Art and Architecture. Indeed, Venice is one of the few cities in the world where Art and Architecture have merged in a stunning multiplicity of forms. The city is even renowned for its unique (Venetian) pictorial school famed by the likes of Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese, Castagno... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
San Marco Souvenir Shops
Venice excels in artisanal shops. Venetian lace, hand-blown glassware, velvety textiles the color of the lagoon, marbled paper, butter-soft leather, and papier-mâché masks – all these items have a long history in the city, and discerning visitors travel to Venice yearly to invest in these and other items from the impressive range of unique local boutiques. Many of them are found in the San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Around Rialto Bridge
Having first appeared in documents that date back to the 9th century, the Rialto district was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1514, with the church of San Giacomo as the only structure left standing. Today, it is a busy urban village with a daily vegetable and fish market, several historic sights, plus a wide variety of shopping and dining options. Our self-guided walking tour takes you to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Dorsoduro Walking Tour
One of the six districts of Venice, Dorsoduro’s name translates as “hard bridge” due to the area's relatively high terrain. Home to some of the city’s highest spots, it also comprises some of Venice’s most picturesque canals, historic locations and cultural venues, including the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute; the Gallerie dell’ Academia & the Ca’ Rezzonico – both... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Distinctively Italian Things to Buy in Venice
Venice has been a tourist mecca for over a century now, with millions of visitors flocking in every year to see this unique place on the face of the Earth. Many, if not all, of these people seek to obtain something memorable as a token of their stay in this city. By far, not all of them know which...