San Giacomo dall'Orio

The Chiesa di San Giacomo dall'Orio (or San Giacomo Apostolo - St James the Apostle) is a church located in the middle of a residential district of Venice. The origin of the church's name is unknown. Possibilities include being named after a laurel ("lauro") that once stood nearby, a version of "dal Rio" ("of the river"), or once standing on an area of dried-up swamp ("luprio"). It was founded in the 9th century and rebuilt in 1225. The campanile dates from this period. There have been a number of rebuildings since that time (including a major renovation in 1532) and the ship's keel roof dates from the 14th century. Two of the columns were brought back from the Fourth Crusade.

San Giacomo dall'Orio is a parish church of the Vicariate of San Polo-Santa Croce-Dorsoduro. The other churches in the parish are San Stae and San Zandegolà.

Works of art

* Francesco Bassano ("Madonna in Glory" and "St John the Baptist preaching" in the new sacristy, the latter including portraits of Bassano's family and Titian)
* Lorenzo Lotto ("Madonna and four Saints", the altarpiece of the high altar)
* Palma il Giovane ("Mystery of the Eucharist" covering the walls and part of the ceiling of the old sacristy; two scenes from "The Life of St Laurence" in the north transept)
* Paolo Veneziano (painted Crucifix hanging in front of the high altar (attributed))
* Veronese ("SS Laurence, Jerome and Prosper", altarpiece in the north transept; "Allegory of Faith" and "The Doctors of the Church" on the ceiling of the new sacristy (both by Veronese's workshop))

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=venice,+italy&ll=45.440065,12.327079&spn=0.003004,0.010274&t=k&hl=en Satellite image from Google Maps]