Database: San Giacomo di Rialto (Nexus)

An iconic church of Venice, it is home to two legends. First, according to tradition, San Giacomo was founded the same year as Venice itself, in 421 in the very same place that became known as the Rialto. This would make it the patron church of the city. Second, the presence of the church later prompted the creation of the famous market of the Rialto. According to tradition, it was allegedly there, under the protection and scrutiny of the church, that the first bill of exchange was introduced among the merchants, money lenders, and bankers. It basically consisted of a piece of paper with a name and an amount. No matter if this is true or not, the fact is San Giacomo has always had a notable importance for the Venetians.