Campo San Barnaba (St. Barnabas' Square), Venice

Campo San Barnaba (St. Barnabas' Square), Venice

The San Barnaba Parish, situated by the canal in its central square, was renowned in the 18th century as the dwelling place of the Barnabotti, impoverished noble families who resided in affordable lodgings to sustain their meager incomes. As members of the aristocracy, they were prohibited from engaging in trades or running shops. Some Barnabotti resorted to selling their votes to more powerful families in the Great Council ("Maggior Consiglio"), while others survived on meager state assistance, begging, or working in the state gambling house. Visitors to the city often marveled at the paradoxical sight of silk-clad beggars, as the Venetian nobility were required to wear silk, regardless of their financial means.

Today, the square and canal retain their quiet charm, adorned with a vegetable barge. The church, open in the mornings from Monday to Saturday, boasts a simple design with a Tiepolesque ceiling. Film enthusiasts may recognize it from its appearance in the 1989 film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". There are numerous dining options available, such as Oniga (12-11pm), featuring an eclectic yet cozy interior and delightful outdoor seating on the square. Their menu offers a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes, but the focus lies on fresh seafood, with their specialty being the "bucintoro"—a delectable combination of mussels, clams, prawns, calamari, and spaghetti—prepared for two at a premium price. On the other hand, La Bitta (Mon-Fri: 7-10pm) provides a dark and rustic ambiance, resembling a welcoming bistro with limited indoor seating. They take pride in serving beautifully presented, traditional Venetian cuisine, proudly excluding fish from their offerings. Their attentive waitstaff and handwritten daily menu emphasize local ingredients, including rabbit, following a "slow food" ethos. La Bitta offers two dinner seatings at 7pm and 9pm, and reservations are required.

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Campo San Barnaba (St. Barnabas' Square) on Map

Sight Name: Campo San Barnaba (St. Barnabas' Square)
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Venice, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Venice

Create Your Own Walk in Venice

Creating your own self-guided walk in Venice is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Jewish Ghetto Tour

Jewish Ghetto Tour

Founded in 1516, the Jewish Ghetto in Venice was the oldest of its kind in all Europe. At the time, Venice received order from the Pope to expel all Jews from the city, but the Venetian government opted to lock them onto a small island in the district of Cannaregio. Since then this small area has been the center of Jewish life in Venice, with buildings rising vertically to accommodate the rising...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Venice Introduction Walking Tour

Venice Introduction Walking Tour

Although most experts agree that the Venetian lagoon emerged nearly 6,000 years ago, the area of today's Venice remained mostly uninhabited, except for a small population of fishermen, up until the 5th century AD when the hordes of Gothic barbarians, looting their way into Rome, drove many a people away from their homes on the mainland to take refuge on the coastal Venetian islands.

Those...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Dorsoduro Walking Tour

Dorsoduro Walking Tour

One of the six districts of Venice, Dorsoduro’s name translates as “hard bridge” due to the area's relatively high terrain. Home to some of the city’s highest spots, it also comprises some of Venice’s most picturesque canals, historic locations and cultural venues, including the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute; the Gallerie dell’ Academia & the Ca’ Rezzonico – both...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Piazza San Marco Walking Tour

Piazza San Marco Walking Tour

All of Venice’s roads seem to run into Piazza San Marco – the commercial, religious, and political heart of the city. With a glowing reputation as one of the finest squares in the world and arguably one of Europe’s primary tourist attractions, it certainly has a lot to offer to visitors.

Start your exploration with a tour of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale, which takes you...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Murano Island Walking Tour

Murano Island Walking Tour

Murano is often called the Glass Island, since it is home to the most impressive and renowned Venetian glass factories. The master craftsmen here have preserved their centuries-old techniques, and the island is full of shops where you can admire and purchase their adorable glass items. Some factories, such as Gino Mazzuccato’s, at the start of this self-guided walk, even have special showrooms...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Casanova's Venice

Casanova's Venice

One of Venice's most famous personalities, Giacomo Casanova is remembered today as a womanizer, but was much more than that. Born in a family of theater actors in 1725, he came through as highly intellectual and very sharp from his very childhood, having become in his time an erudite scholar, a diplomat and spy, and a metropolitan ‘avant la lettre’, who frequented the high society and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


15 Distinctively Italian Things to Buy in Venice

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