Corfu and its residents have a deep-seated devotion to St. Spyridon, despite the fact that the island's patron saint, known for his many benefactions and virtues, never actually lived on the island. St. Spyridon Church was built in 1589 by the Corfiot Voulgaris family as a private place of worship. The church is a stunning example of late-Byzantine architectural style, with clear influences from the Italian Renaissance, a reflection of Corfu's long history under Venetian occupation. The single-aisled, wooden-roofed heptanesian style basilica is known for its understated exterior and ornate interior, which houses the relics of St. Spyridon. The church's bell tower, built in 1620, is the tallest in the Ionian Islands (42 metres) and bears resemblance to the bell tower of the church of San Giorgio dei Greci in Venice.