Santo Stefano is the third largest monastery church in Venice. Built by the Augustinian Hermits in the 13th century, it was re-structured a century later, and subsequent embellishments made it into one of the finest examples of Venetian Flamboyant Gothic architectures. On the fourteenth-century façade in brick, the superb marble portal is highly underlined, work by Bartolomeo Bon. The church was reconsecrated in 1374.
The sacristy contains a veritable museum with some of the great names in Venetian Renaissance art. On the side walls there is the 'Last Supper' (1579-80), 'The Risen' (1565 ca.), 'Christ Washing the Apostles Feet' (1579-80), and 'Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane' (1579-80) by Jacopo Tintoretto, works contemporaneously realized for Scuola di San Rocco, and a 'Sacred Family with Maria Maddalena and Saint Caterina' (1528-30) by Bonifacio De 'Pitati.
Of other significance there is 'Saint Nicola from Bari' and 'Saint Lorenzo' (1475 ca.) by Bartolomeo Vivarini which both place side by side to 'The Crucifixion' (1775 ca.) by Giuseppe Angeli; above there is the 'Martyrdom of Saint Stefano' (1630 ca. - 1638) by Sante Peranda.
On the opposite side you will find 'The Escape from Egypt', 'The Adoration of the Magicians', and the 'Massacre of the Innocents' (1733) by Gaspare Diziani.
In the sacristy there is also a museum of sculpturs where a fine sculptur of 'Saint Sebastiano' by Tullio Lombardo is found. Such as 'Saint Andrea' and 'Saint Girolamo' (1476-1480 ca.) by Pietro Lombardo and his assistants, and a beautiful sculpture by Antonio Canova; the 'Stele Funeraria del Senatore Giovanni Falier' (1808).
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.