The Scuola Grande of San Rocco represents an important stage of Venetian art history of XVI century: in order to decorate the major Hall of the Albergo they announced a competition which joined to the most renowned painters active in Venice in those times: Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Federico Zuccari, Giuseppe Salviati, Andrea Schiavone.

The contest was won by Tintoretto who, by a clever advertising operation, gave as gift to the School one of the most important canvas to be committed, which was much appreciated for its high artistic value and which convinced the jury (since it was not possible for the school to reject a gift) to not change the style for the rest of the series.

By the name of Schools (Scuole) were not called in Venice the learning institutions but some secular associations of charity and mutual aid belonging to the professional associations. They were almost 400 during the period of higher splendour of Serenissima Republic of Venice. Each confraternity was located inside a palace richly built and decorated and dedicated to its patron saint, who had to be the subject of all artworks commited to the most important artist of the time.

Behind the palace of the School of St.Rocco there is the Church of St.Pantalon, with unfinished facade, which contains works by Veronese, Palma il Giovane, Antonio Vivarini and the most important work by Fumiani, a ceiling decorated with more than 60 canvases. Going on beyond the small bridge of San Tomà, we arrive to the house by Carlo Goldoni, the highest literary glory of Venice and numen of Italian theatre, which nowadays hosts the International Institute for Theatral Research. Then the small church of San Polo, initially built in the IX cenntury and rebuilt in XV century, which is a precious treasure containing works by Tintoretto, Veronese and Tiepolo.