The Gothic St-Mary church, often known as I Frari, was built in 1340-1443 by the Franciscans in a, by Venetian standards, simple style, because poverty was the first principle of the ‘Grey Friars’ order. After San Marco it is the largest church in Venice. It houses religious
works of art by Titian: ‘The Assumption of the Holy Virgin’ (click button) as well as the artist’s enormous grave monument. The church is dominated by the fifteenth century 7 metre/23 foot high choir screen that divided the area for laymen from that of the clergy. Decorated with reliefs by Pietro Lombardo and Bartolomeo Bon. Opposite Titian’s grave is the pyramidal tomb of (and by) Canova that only contains the sculptor’s heart. The other mortal remains were taken to his birthplace, Passagno.
