San Zulian church
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Between faith and science
San Zulian church may date back to IX century; however, its current features must be attributed to a XVI century restauration sponsored by Tommaso Rangone.
Rangone, a doctor and philologist from the city of Ravenna, made a fortune with his cure for syphilis and with a book on longevity (he stated that it should be possible to live until 120 years). He was buried inside San Zulian church, and represented on the facade: his bronze statue by Sansovino holds sarsaparilla and guaiacum, some of the ingredients of his medicine.
San Zulian is believed to be the first place in Venice where a person was represented on a religious building (we have more exemples of this trend for the following years).
