Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista

Political power had its perks for this influential Venetian confraternity, including a lavish 1st-floor meeting hall designed in 1729 by Giorgio Massari, a Codussi-designed double staircase, and Pietro Lombardo’s 1481 courtyard entry arch that tops any red carpet for impressive entrances. Bellini and Titian turned out world-class works for the scuola (religious confraternity) that have been moved to the Gallerie dell’Accademia – but Palma Il Giovane’s works still illuminate the Sala d’Albergo, and Pietro Longhi’s charming Adoration of the Wise Men is still here, with its bright-eyed, wriggling baby Jesus. With the Council of Ten among his clients in the scuola, Giandomenico Tiepolo was obliged to finish contracts left unfinished by his father Giambattista when he left for Spain. Today the scuola functions as a conference opens, and opens occasionally to the public. Opposite the scuola stands the deconsecrated Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista, sometimes open for temporary art exhibitions, with a Crucifixion by Tintoretto. A private chapel founded by the Badoer family in 970 includes a wonderful image by Pietro Vecchia of St John the Evangelist holding a pen, awaiting dictation from God, who’s hoisting a globe over the altar.