An ancient lion's mouth

 Santa Maria della Visitazione church in Venice is also known as Artigianelli.
Built in the XV, it was then passed to Dominicans in XVII, who turned it into a public library. However, during Napoleon’s occupation, books were stolen and the church with its convent abandoned; later, the convent became an orphanage and the church was restored to serve as a chapel for the kids. In XIX century, the whole centre became a student accommodation (Centro don Orione at Artigianelli).
The facade of Santa Maria della Visitazione church is Lombardesque style; worth of notice, a bocca di leone, a kind of letterbox where anonymous accusation were posted during the Republic of Venice (in this case, to the sanitation departement, as there are other lion’s mouth in the city).

Santa Maria della Visitazione church is located on the Zattere riverside. Water bus stop: Zattere.

Address

Dorsoduro, Fondamenta Zattere ai Gesuati, 30123 - Venezia

Phone

+39 041 52 22 171

Web Site

http://www.pietavenezia.org

Opening hours

All days
10:15-12:00
15:00-17:00
On Saturdays and Sundays 10:15-13:00 / 14:00-17:00
Closed on Mondays

Transports

Water bus Line 2, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 8, 10, 16, N | Zattere