Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
09:00 - 19:30
Monday
09:00 - 19:30
Tuesday
09:00 - 19:30
Wednesday
09:00 - 19:30
Thursday
09:00 - 19:30
Friday
09:00 - 19:30
Saturday
09:00 - 18:00
Sunday
13:00 - 18:00
About
Originally built in the mid-13th century, Santa Maria Glorisoa dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars) houses many masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art, notably Giovanni Bellini's triptych "Madonna and Child with Saints," the "Assumption" and the "Pesaro Madonna" by Titian, Saint John the Baptist by Donatello.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: San Polo
The Rialto Bridge is the most famous sight along the Grand Canal in San Polo, smallest of Venice's six sestieri (districts) and by far the busiest neighbourhood. Morning Venetians arrive to peruse the markets for fish, fruit and vegetables, while shops display goods from cheese to wine to desserts. San Silvestro and Rialto Market vaporetto (water taxi) stops add to the steady stream of foot traffic. San Polo is defined by churches including Basilica dei Frari, one of the most important churches sought by art lovers.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Kai C
    Half Moon Bay, California1,329 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    amazing
    One of my favorite churches in Venice, a spectacular example of Venetian gothic style. It of course has the 2 Tizians, but also a Donatello and a Bellini (which is in the sacristy and not available when I visited). Incredible statuary (includes 4 enormous blacks shouldering a marble freeze, an enormous and amazing gothic screen, and evidence of early (6th century) Christian frescoes; monumental funeral statuary of early doges (Foscari etc). Truly amazing.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 8 January 2024
  • John P
    Melbourne, Australia1,160 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lasting joy!
    No matter how often one visits Venice there are favourite friends you just have to see and in my book the Frari is one of those! One can enthuse about Titian and Bellini but really to my mind it is the wonderful ensemble, it’s enormous scale, the bricks, the numerous beautiful memorials, that of Canova especially elegant and beautiful in my mind, the sun of all its parts rather than any individual pieces. I do hope I get to come back a further time, it is delightful inside and out!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 January 2024
  • Laurene M
    389 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An art lovers Paradise
    This is an art lovers’ Paradise as this church has excellent examples. of works by Titian, Donatello, and Bellini. The Francisco order which established this church purposely changed-its design to bring in more light and with it, more space for art. It is close enough to Scuola San Rocco, that visitors can combine the two places in one day.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 May 2024
  • westy54
    Sydney, Australia13,545 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Huge 15th century Gothic church. The plain red brick facade belies the magnificence of the artwork and sculpture inside.
    This very large Gothic church was largely completed in the first half of the 15th century after having taken nearly 100 years to build. The red brick facade is largely unadorned except for four rose windows, one large and one very small above the single portal in the central nave and two medium sized windows, one in each of the aisles. There are also three statues surmounted on the cornice above the portal that were added in the early 16th century. The campanile was completed in 1396 but had structural renovations undertaken in the course of the 20th century. The interior is in the style of a Latin Cross with a central nave, an aisle either side separated by 12 columns and a Gothic vaulted rib ceiling. The church also has three small chapels either side of the main chapel and altar, a magnificent choir screen dating from 1475 that contains 124 wooden seats and 10 chapels and/or monuments along the aisle walls including the tombs/monuments of Canova, Titian and several Doges. We were advised that Monteverdi is also buried here. The stained glass windows are also quite lovely. Perhaps though the most outstanding features are the paintings and sculptures, particularly those of Titian including the "Assumption of the Virgin" which is the main altarpiece and Giovanni Bellini's Fran Triptych in the Altar of the Sacristy. There was a cost of EUR3 (for seniors) to enter which was money well spent.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 September 2024
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4.5
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Thea S
Hickory, North Carolina224 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Only 3 euros will get you into a late 13th century church with a Titian altarpiece, Donatello sculpture and Bellini Madonna, plus numerous other works . Nice audio tour as well. Need Green Pass or equivalent to enter. No line.
Written 16 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,577 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
The Frari and the Scuola Grande Di San Rocco are only about 2 minutes apart. Do include both on a sightseeing day. Admission varies for Frari and the Senior admission is $3 (as of July, 2022). An audio guide is also available.

As of this visit (our last one was 6 years ago), the Monument to Canova was cordoned off for repairs and all that can be seen of the beautiful pyramid shaped structure is the 2 moors on the right side (who appear to be holding up the top of the structure). They have ragged leggings on and their black faces and arms stand in stark contrast to their white clothing. Their faces are turned towards each other. There is sheer power in those bodies. Canova heart is entombed here.

Particularly famous pieces of art are two paintings by Titian and one by Bellini. The Assumption of the Virgin (1516-1518) creates a triangle of red with Mary on the ascent and the Apostles on the bottom level. God is on high from where all the light radiates and Mary is looking at him.

The second Titian piece (1519-1526) "Madonna of Ca' Pesaro" was commissioned by Commander Jacopo Pesario who is kneeling in front of the Virgin Mary and a captured Turk (wearing a white headpiece) is depicted near the battle flag. A Pesario family member (a young boy) looks out at us from the painting.

Titian is buried in the Frari.

The Frari's architecture is very impressive, it is huge and, because the soil is soft in Venice, the structure needed to be light. Brick was used in the construction. The interior houses no fewer than 30 works of art spanning the 1400's to the 1800's and the church serves as an ideal backdrop for these masterpieces.
Written 12 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KAW687
London, UK2,591 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Absolutely loved it here, so much to see and full of art. A much better experience than St Marks, here we were free to wander around and appreciate the building You are allowed to take photos. So many things not to miss-the tombs of Canova and Titian, the Donatello statue of St John, 2 paintings by Titian, carved choir stalls, a relic altar, a wonderfully moving modern pieta and a very elaborate clock with 4 seasons.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kenneth E
Erwin, TN643 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
There are plenty of other churches to see that are free. Even the free churches, i always give a small donation too when visiting. This church charges €5 for adults and €2 for kids or students. So my family of 4 was €14. I know that doesn't sound like much, but with everything else doing, it adds up.
Written 9 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ksarman
Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar8,867 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
I was visiting the so famous doge palace when i heard someone spoken about the Frari Church
15 mins walk after i was on Dorsoduro area, so genuine, so beautiful and i found this Church, from outside it s an monumental red brick building on pleasant square.
inside you ll discover some architectural exceptional mausoleums .
1 is under renovation, all the others are all different, it s like a trail through the italian art history.
entrance fees 3 euros, worth it .
Dont miss the view on the closed monastery garden
Written 11 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mel R
23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Friends
Beautiful and historic basilica. The woodwork on the choir is some of the most intricate I have ever seen. Several late medieval and early Renaissance artworks, plus a working mechanism of a tower clock. You can also join the friars for morning prayer at 8am and mass at 8:30, making your visit a religious experience as well.
Written 12 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Howie1953
New York141 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
The church has a number of outstanding works of art, both paintings and sculptures. For me, the most moving is the Titian painting of the Assumption of the Virgin, above the alter. The paining itself is an amazing work, full of colour and life and seeing it in the position it was created for, rather than on a museum wall, makes the experience all the more powerful.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mjomidi
Tehran, Iran74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Solo
On your walking route from the Rialto bridge to the Galleria dell'Accademia, don't miss this imposing brick edifice that is one of the city's three notable churches. It also hosts a precious collection of some famous masterpieces of great italian artists such as Donatello and Titian. The Canova Monument is also located in this magnificent Basilica.
Take your time and enjoy your visit.
Written 14 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

romanshorner
Munich, Germany1,284 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
It is an interersting old church. The entrance is charged, but the money is for the conservation of this beautiful impressing church. It is a big imposing building from the 14th century. It is very interestring. One of the most important things is the painting Assumption of the Virgin of Titian at the front altar. Although it is not one of the top sights of Venice, I think once in Venice, you should go there and look inside.
Written 31 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brun066
Florence, Italy13,631 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
This distinguished church of the Franciscan monastic order in Venice easily suggests a comparison with the - also Franciscan - church of Santa Croce in Florence; because both cities are at the top of the European urban hierarchy in the Middle Ages and in the early modern era, because both cities are priceless treasures of history and art, finally because both churches have among the reasons for their fame the presence of tombs of illustrious Italians men.
Of course, the church of Santa Croce in Florence is even more famous for this, because the importance of the illustrious men buried there, such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Leon Battista Alberti, Leonardo Bruni, Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, Gioacchino Rossini, isn't reachable, and seems superior to that of the however sublime Titian, Antonio Canova and Claudio Monteverdi, buried in the Venetian church.
But in all other respects Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari holds its own against Santa Croce very well.
First of all, the "Frari" are rightly famous because they house numerous tombs of doges, or of captains of the Republic of Venice who have distinguished themselves over the centuries in the war campaigns against other Italian powers or against the Turks, in the Italian mainland or elsewhere in the Mediterranean. . And these tombs have not only historical importance, but are often also masterpieces of art: first of all the tomb of Doge Niccolò Tron, but also that of Doges Francesco Foscari and Giovanni Pesaro.
Then the richness of the other masterpieces of sculpture and inlay imposes itself, making this church a real treasure chest: the extraordinary “Friars' Choir”, which precedes the presbytery; then the sculptures by Donatello (in the “Florentines' Chapel”), by Alessandro Vittoria (second altar on the right) and obviously many others.
Finally, among the many paintings, three works having their consecrated place in the history of art: the "Madonna with Child and Saints" by Giovanni Bellini (in the sacristy), the "Madonna di Ca 'Pesaro" by Titian (in the nave left), the Madonna Assunta, again by Titian (in the presbytery).
In short, this wealth of masterpieces, such as to leave you stunned, together with the purity of the local Gothic style of architecture, fully justifies the title generally attributed to this church, as "the most illustrious church in Venice after San Marco".
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice

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