Basilica dei Frari, Venice

Venice's second largest Gothic church, with two Titian masterpieces and the State Archive of the Republic

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari – the Frari – is Venice's largest and art-historically richest Gothic church alongside San Zanipolo. Construction of the Franciscan church in the San Polo sestiere began around 1250 and stretched over two centuries. Inside are two major works by Titian: the celebrated Assumption of the Virgin above the high altar and the Madonna di Ca' Pesaro. The church also holds tombs of many distinguished Venetians, including Titian's own grand monument. The adjoining monastery buildings have housed the Venetian State Archive since 1817, storing millions of documents from the age of the Serenissima.