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A fourth-century saint is alleged to have slain a beast within this medieval church.
The ribs on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria e San Donato are a reminder of the area's ancient history. Legend has it that they belonged to a dragon who was slain by a saint. The church dates back to the seventh century, when the Venetian archipelago was made up of scattered settlements seeking protection from Germanic invaders. It was initially dedicated to Santa Maria only—the addition of 'e San Donato' came in 1125 after Doge Domenico Michiel brought the remains of both the saint and the dragon he killed from Cephalonia to Venice.
