San Polo () is the smallest and most central of the six
sestieri of Venice, northern Italy, covering 86 acres (35 hectares)
along the
Grand Canal. It is one of the oldest parts of the city, having been settled before the ninth century, when it and
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestiere (Venice), sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city as the main place of Venice. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Although the district includes Piazza San Marco, Saint Mar ...
formed part of the
Realtine Islands. The sestiere is named for the
Church of San Polo.
The district has been the site of Venice's main market since 1097, and connected to the eastern bank of the Grande Canal by the
Rialto
The Rialto is a central area of Venice, Italy, in the ''sestiere'' of San Polo. It is, and has been for many centuries, the financial and commercial heart of the city. Rialto is known for its prominent markets as well as for the monumental Ria ...
bridge since the thirteenth century. The western part of the quarter is now known for its
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...
es, while the eastern part, sometimes just called the ''Rialto'', is known for its
palace
A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...
s and smaller houses.
Attractions in San Polo include the
Rialto Bridge, the
Church of San Giacomo di Rialto (according to legend the oldest in the city), the
Campo San Polo with the
Church of San Polo, the
House of Goldoni, the
Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the
Church of San Rocco and the
Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
References
{{coord, 45, 26, 17, N, 12, 19, 59, E, region:IT_type:city_source:kolossus-ruwiki, display=title
Sestieri of Venice