- you are here: Home
- Hidden Treasures
- St Peters throne in the Cathedral of Castello

St Peters throne in the Cathedral of Castello
Far from the usual tourist destinations, in the sestiere of Castello in Venice you can find the old city's cathedral: St Peter in Castello, one of the oldest churches in Venice, built in the 7th century where a byzantine fortress – called the Castle, hence the name of the sestiere - once stood.
This church conceals one of the most unusual hidden treasures of Venice – a throne that apparently once belonged to the Apostle Peter during his preaching as a bishop in Antioch, Siria.
The story goes that the throne was originally donated to the Doge Pietro Tradonico by the Constantinople's Emperor Michael III in the 9th century. In reality, the throne does not have a Christian origin, as its backing was built from an ancient Islamic funeral stone bearing Arabic decorations and etched Kufic characters of verses from the Koran.
The seat was probably built in the course of the 13th century, perhaps in Antioch itself, and then brought to Venice, to augment the prestige of the cathedral, which could in this way boast to owning an object that once belonged to the Apostle Peter.
The Castello district with its wonderful church of San Pietro is one of the most interesting places in Venice, where the true essence of the lagoon city still exists ... Do you want to discover it accompanied by an expert local guide? Book the tour 'I slow Venice: live an experience of sustainable tourism in Venice', the only way to relive the ancient traditions and get away from the most tourist areas of the island!
- Google+
- tumblr
Search posts
Latest posts
Venice: What happened on May 16 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Boldo (St. Ubald Bishop) a church was dedicated to the Sain...
ViewVenice: What happened on May 1 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, today’s Saints are Sts. Philip and James, Apostles and Saint Scholastica, of whom ther...
ViewVenice: What happened on April 25 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Mark, Evangelist, Patron Saint of Venice It is the First Fea...
ViewVenice: What happened on April 20 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Victor. - April 20, 1797: capture of the French friga...
ViewTop posts
Venice: 10 songs that will make you think of Venice

Did you know that...
Sometimes we hear the first few lines of a song and our minds are suddenly transported back to a place, a memory or a dream. We put tog...
ViewPadua: Vò Euganeo: a place to be discovered

Unknown places & works
In the last few months there has been much talking around the small town of Vò, in the province of Padua. It was at the center of ever...
ViewVenice: 10 must-see movies filmed in Venice

Film Locations
Venice is unique amongst world cities and every year it turns into a dream-like experience for scores of tourists thanks to its timeles...
ViewChioggia: The Valley of the Seven Dead Men

Mysteries & Legends
Halloween is just around the corner: have you already got into the fascinating terrifying aura of the scariest party of the year? No ye...
View