San Giacomo di Rialto Church

Modest in exterior, but interesting on the inside, this church, located in the San Polo district, may be one of the oldest churches in Venice. It is also so small that the locals sometimes call it San Giacometto (small Giacomo). If you are a fan of computer games, you may remember the church from the second game of the popular Assassin’s Creed series.

Nobody knows exactly how old San Giacomo di Rialto is. If the legends are to be believed, it may have been built as early as the 5th century AD. The earliest surviving documents tell us that it was already standing by the 12th century AD. Since then, the church has undergone several reconstructions, none of which have changed the original layout or look of it. It has also reportedly survived a devastating fire, which burnt the entire island of Rialto to the ground.

Nowadays, the church hosts a small museum of medieval string instruments inside. When visiting, take note of the giant clock on the church’s tower. Added in the 15th century, it never tells the right time.