Between 1799 and 1800, at the end of the French Revolution, San Giorgio Island in Venice hosted the last conclave outside Rome, which elected Pius VII.
Pope Francis visited the Holy See Pavilion for the famous contemporary art event, the Venice Biennale, housed in the Giudecca's women's prison facility.
The body of St. Mark the Evangelist was smuggled out of Alexandria by Venetian merchants in search of an impressive patron saint. He remains in Venice today.
During his first trip of the year outside of the Vatican, the pontiff will visit a woman's prison and the Venice Biennale, and will celebrate a public Mass.