San Polo Venice is one of the city’s six sestieri, or districts, and a compact area to explore on foot. Its landmarks include Campo dei Frari, the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and San Rocco, where a church and historic confraternity school stand close together.
From Acca Hotel, Campo dei Frari is about a 6-minute walk. Here’s how to orient yourself, plan visits to the main sights and get around the neighbourhood.
- District: San Polo is one of Venice’s six sestieri.
- Campo dei Frari: about a 6-minute walk from Acca Hotel.
- Frari Basilica: visitor hours run Monday–Saturday and on Sundays and public holidays, with changes possible for liturgical celebrations.
- San Rocco: the Scuola Grande and Church of San Rocco have separate admission, as well as a combined ticket.
Where San Polo sits in Venice
San Polo is one of Venice’s six sestieri, and Campo dei Frari makes a useful landmark when finding your bearings in the district. The square and the basilica share the Frari name, while the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and Church of San Rocco offer another pair of nearby cultural stops.
For a simple way to arrange a visit, use Campo dei Frari as your first landmark, then continue to the Frari Basilica. You can make San Rocco a separate stop or combine the church and confraternity school in one visit.
Campo dei Frari and the Frari Basilica
The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is at San Polo 3072, 30125 Venice. Its visitor hours are Monday–Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday and public holidays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Liturgical celebrations may change visitor hours, so check the official site before you go.
Children up to and including age 11 enter free. The visitor ticket contributes to the upkeep of the basilica. Mass takes place at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, and at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Keep those services in mind when planning a visit.
The guide to visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari covers planning a visit to this basilica.
San Rocco and its confraternity school
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco preserves more than 60 paintings in their original setting. Founded in 1478 as a lay confraternity, it took possession of the remains of St. Roch in 1485. Tintoretto painted its pictorial cycle, which depicts episodes from the Old and New Testaments.
The Scuola Grande is at San Polo 3052, 30125 Venice. It opens Monday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; last entry is 5:00 p.m.
It closes on New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Easter, and its calendar may announce extraordinary variations. Tickets are sold at the ticket office, which closes at 5:00 p.m.; online sales are not available.
Full-price admission is €12. Reduced admission is €10 for visitors over 70, Touring Club members and Rolling Venice owners; visitors aged 8–18 pay €3, and children under 8 enter free.
A family ticket for two adults and their underage children costs €26. Free admission is available to disabled visitors and one accompanying person, Catholic clergy, children under 8 and authorized guides.
The Church of San Rocco has the same opening hours and last-entry time as the Scuola Grande. Full-price admission is €3.50; reduced admission is €2 for visitors aged 8–26 and groups of at least 20.
Venice Municipality residents, disabled visitors and one accompanying person, Catholic clergy, and children under 8 enter free. A combined ticket for the Scuola Grande and church costs €14 full price, €12 reduced, €10 for students under 26 and €30 for a family of two adults and underage children.
The Scuola Grande is about a 3-minute walk from the San Tomà waterbus stop, 8 minutes from Santa Lucia railway station and 5 minutes from Piazzale Roma. The Chiesa di San Rocco and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco share a combined ticket.
Walking toward Rialto and the Grand Canal
Rialto gives you a waterbus connection as well as a destination for a walk beyond San Polo. ACTV’s Rialto stop has four landing points, labelled A, B, C and D.
If you use a wheelchair, boarding arrangements differ after 8:19 p.m. until the end of service: you can book to board at A or B instead of C or D at least 20 minutes ahead by calling 800845065. To get off at A or B instead, ask the onboard crew to make an additional stop.
A one-day Venice walking route from San Polo connects this district with other parts of the city on foot.
Getting around the neighbourhood
San Polo’s sights can be approached as a walking itinerary: start at Campo dei Frari, visit the basilica, then continue to San Rocco. For a longer outing, connect the district with Rialto by waterbus or on foot. Check the relevant attraction’s official information for current opening and ticket details before setting out.
From Acca Hotel, Venezia Santa Lucia is about a 23-minute walk, while Piazzale Roma is about a 26-minute walk. The hotel is also about a 12-minute walk from Venice city centre.
FAQs
What is San Polo in Venice?
San Polo is one of Venice’s six sestieri. Campo dei Frari, the Frari Basilica and the sights of San Rocco are among its landmarks.
How much time should you allow for the Scuola Grande di San Rocco?
The Scuola Grande preserves more than 60 paintings in their original setting, including Tintoretto’s cycle on episodes from the Old and New Testaments. The facts here give its opening hours and last entry, but not a recommended visit duration.
Can you visit the Scuola Grande and Church of San Rocco with one ticket?
Yes. A combined ticket is available for both, with full-price, reduced, student and family rates.
Where can wheelchair users board at the Rialto waterbus stop?
After 8:19 p.m. until the end of service, wheelchair users can book at least 20 minutes ahead to board at landing A or B instead of C or D. To get off at A or B, ask the onboard crew to make an additional stop.