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History of the Church of San Bartolomeo
Tradition has it that a Church dedicated to St. Demetrius, martyred in Tessalonica, already existed as far back as 840. 
In 1170 the building was transformed into a three aisle, cupola at the cross, structure -- perhaps as it appears in the well-know map by Jacopo de' Barberi. During the same period the Church was dedicated to St. Bartholomew the apostle and it became a parish church. Following the construction of Rialto Bridge and the renewal of the surrounding area, the external parts of the Church were built up around and enclosed by buildings; whereas internally, the church was, after various alterations, progressively renewed till it reached its present form and structure. Between 1723 and 1755 the bell-tower was erected, from a project from Giovanni Scalfarotto. Then the high altar was restored and in 1775 Gaetano Callido built the organ. At the beginning of the 19th Century the octagonal cupola in the transept was completed. Only a short time passed, however, before it lapsed from the status of parish church to that of vicarial church, under the control and now part of the San Salvatore Parish.
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