Santi Apostoli, Venice

Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli di Cristo Church of the Holy Apostles of Christ
The campanile and the campo of San Apostoli
Basic information
Location	Venice, Italy
Geographic coordinates	45°26′25.81″N 12°20′11.87″E / 45.4405028°N 12.3366306°E / 45.4405028; 12.3366306Coordinates: 45°26′25.81″N 12°20′11.87″E / 45.4405028°N 12.3366306°E / 45.4405028; 12.3366306
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Country	Italy
Status	Active
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Gothic-Renaissance

The Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli di Cristo (English: Church of the Holy Apostles of Christ), commonly called San Apostoli, is a 7th-century Roman Catholic church located in the Cannaregio sestiere of the Italian city of Venice. It is one of the oldest churches in the city and has undergone numerous changes since its foundation. The present building is the result of a major reconstruction project which was undertaken in 1575. The church is notable particularly for the Cornaro Chapel, an important example of Early Renaissance architecture, added by Mauro Codussi during the 1490s. The chapel is the burial place of several members of the powerful Cornaro family, including Catherine Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus. The church houses several works of art including pieces by Giambattista Tiepolo and Paolo Veronese.

In the 7th century Venice was not yet a city, but a collection of small communities scattered throughout the lagoon. St Magnus (Italian: San Magno), the Bishop of Oderzo, came to the lagoon and founded eight churches. According to a legend recounted by the historian Flaminio Cornaro, St. Magnus had a vision of the Twelve Apostles who commanded him to build a church on a site where he saw twelve cranes. This location, eventually to be in the sestiere of Cannaregio, became the site of the church of San Apostoli. The church presently stands on the Campo dei Santi Apostoli at the beginning of the Strada Nuova (New Road).

During the 1490s the Cappella Cornaro, built as a burial place for the wealthy Venetian Cornaro family, was added to the church. It is considered one of the most important Early Renaissance chapels in Venice. It is unknown exactly who designed the chapel, although it is most often attributed to the architect Mauro Codussi. At the same time a porch was added to the front of the church and a sacristy was built. These alterations were also overseen by Codussi.