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Venice is one of the most romantic cities in Europe and is famous for its unparalleled beauty. The architecture, romantic canals, and many islands make it an unmissable and unforgettable destination. The individual attractions are endless - although the central attraction in Venice is St. Mark's Square. One of the hidden and forgotten attractions in St. Mark's Square is the flooded crypt of the Church of San Zaccaria.

Venice really is a true wonder more than it is a tourist trap - regardless of how many tourists are there, Venice belongs high on one's European bucket list. Venice has a long history with the water and maritime trade in a way no other city has had. It was built on the water to protect it from attacking armies on the mainland.

What To Know Of The Church Of San Zaccaria

The Church of San Zaccaria was built in the 15th century and is located just off the waterfront to the southeast of St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco in Italian). The church is dedicated to St. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.

There has been a church on this site since the early 9th century (during the Byzantine Period), and the original church was rebuilt in the 1170s. That church was replaced with a Gothic church in the 15th century. The remains of that Gothic church are still there today, and the current church was built beside instead of on top of the old one.

  • Built: Between 1458 and 1515

The current church was designed by the architect Antonio Gambello. It started out in the Gothic style. The upper part of the facade was completed in the early Renaissance style decades later by Mauro Codussi. Thus, the facade turned out as a mix of late-Gothic and early Renaissance styles.

Originally the Church of San Zaccaria was built attached to a Benedictine monastery of nuns. Those nuns mostly came from prominent noble families of Venice and had a reputation for laxness in their observance of the monastic enclosure (in other words, they had a reputation for living a free and licentious life). In 855, Pope Benedict III sought refuge in the monastery and later gifted it a large collection of relics.

A fire devastated the monastic complex in 1105, but it was rebuilt, and the monastery continued until Napoleon finally ended over 1,000 years of the Republic of Venice in 1797.

Related: According To Tradition, Saint Nicholas Came From Patara In Turkey (And Is In Italy Today)

Inside The Church Of San Zaccaria

The church is lit by tall Gothic windows (normally found in Northern Europe and not in Venice). Almost all the walls are covered with 17th and 18th-century paintings. The church is a great place to go and meditate and contemplate.

One of the more treasured works in the church is the most famous work by Giovanni Bellini - the San Zaccaria Altarpiece. One artist, Alessandro Vittoria, is buried in the church, and his tomb is marked by a self-portrait bust. The organ dates from 1790 and was built by Gaetano Callido.

But as beautiful and stunning as the church is on the outside and in the interior, its crypt below is a place of mystery.

Related: This Is How You Can See The Roman Catacombs While You're In Rome

The Crypts Of The Church San Zaccaria

Venice is famously low-lying, and it should come as no surprise that its crypts are flooded (it's not a good idea to have a basement in Venice). The crypt of the church is mostly populated by the doges (rich nobles) of Venice's early life.

The crypt is stunning, with columns and vaulted ceilings. It can be argued that the flooded crypts enhance the funereal beauty of the church. The water creates something of a mirror pool that makes the columns look almost twice the length that they really are. The tombs are raised above the water and almost feel sacred.

So while most people just marvel at the outside and interior of the church, take the time to discover the crypts while there.

The entrance to the crypt is through an otherwise unremarkable door marked "please close the door behind you." It is advised to have an exact change to visit the crypt.

The best way to get to Venice is by train. The train leads all the way into the heart of historic Venice, and travelers are greeted with one of the most stunning views as they exit from the train station. One should allow at least two full days to experience Venice.