In any old city, the present determines how the past is experienced. Historic architecture contrasts with modern high-rises, an exceptional monument stands at a busy intersection, half of an old street consists of new construction, and motorized traffic dominates the once quiet streetscape. In Venice, all this is hardly an issue. Venice does not offer the visitor a fragmented experience of history, but immerses its guests in a world where the traces of the past are visible everywhere. Unfortunately, on the other hand, the visitor is hardly confronted anymore with how the city originally functioned. Today, more than ever, Venice has the character of an open-air museum for the mass tourist. However, this qualification is not justified in every respect.

Anyone who glances at the city’s many gable-end chapels knows that Venice is still more than an open-air museum. The facade chapels in particular are still relevant to many of the remaining inhabitants. They do not see them as religious artifacts from a bygone era but rather consider them an essential aspect of living in the city. Consequently, they are well maintained and refurbished where necessary. Many a façade chapel thus shows, in its own modest way, how in Venice the past has remained alive.

Because the street saints are so widely scattered throughout the city, this book also offers readers the opportunity to experience Venice for themselves in a unique way. “Street Saints of Venice” is therefore also the indispensable guide for a stroll through the city that avoids the usual tourist routes and instead takes you through the alleys, squares, and quays where the chapels are located. With the help of the maps included in the book and two QR codes, walkers can set out on their own to discover the street saints and experience that the authentic Venice still exists.

Maarten van Noort (1953) trained as a visual artist at the KABK (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, The Hague, 1971–1976). He then studied art history (Leiden University, 1984–1991), specializing in theoretical art history. In *Street Saints of Venice*, aspects of both fields of study come together.