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Two hours and seventeen minutes of playtime provide today’s independent traveler with an unparalleled audio tour of this truly unique monument. Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Basilica (the Frari) is the mother church for Venice’s Franciscan Order and one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Italy. Built in the shape of a Latin cross, it is a classic example of a Gothic style which can only be described as Franciscan because it avoids ostentatious spires, pinnacles and flying buttresses. The harmony and beauty of the lines, spaces, vaults, ribbing and crosses render this building a true masterpiece of Venetian art and history. Professional narrators delight, inform and amuse as they guide the listener along while describing the churches remarkable history and its magnificent art. Its spectacular interior is most famous for its art and the monumental tombs of rich and famous Venetians it contains. The grandeur of its architecture, the harmony of its lines, the magnificent monuments along the walls, the gradual rise of the double order of steps, the stained-glass windows shining above and casting their soft glow below, seem to move ones eye towards a single point, “the Assumption” by Titian, the most precious of all of the Basilica’s masterpieces. Everything focuses from above, drawing one's eye toward the brilliant light, which holds the visitor in a sense of inexpressible spiritual wonder. The totality of the setting adds to the power and splendor that have made Titian's masterpiece famous throughout the centuries. The artist knew exactly how to use the whole of the architecture to perfectly frame his painting, which the great sculptor Canova described as the most beautiful picture in the world. Tiziano Vecellio, known throughout the world as simply Titian, is buried here in the Frari, in a rather simple tomb designed by Canova, which stands along the right aisle of the church. The Frari contains many other masterpieces by some of the greatest Renaissance artist, in fact too many to mention in this writing. This 29 track audio tour is in MP3 format, on one CD, ready for copying to any MP3 device library. Not for use on a regular CD player