This is the imposing gothic Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo, or of san Zanipolo as the Venetians call it unifying the two names. If you stand in front of the elegant entrance, to the left of the door is a white marble sarcophagus, with carvings of two angels and doves with crosses on them. This was dedicated to an early doge called Jacopo Tiepolo, who in a dream claimed he saw two angels accompanied by doves floating above a field covered in white roses, while a voice from above told him that was where he must build a church. He was the first of 21 doges in Venice’s history who chose to be buried here, which is why San Giovanni e Paolo is often called the Pantheon of the Doges.
Although Jacopo Tiepolo’s dream might be more legend than truth, the church was built, and it might not seem like much nowadays, but at the time this whole area, as much of the city generally, was still swamp-like, muddy, dirty and rather smelly. Not ideal to build such a large, heavy and simply impressive building as this.