Churches

Discover the secrets of Venetian churches

Churches of Venice are a treasure of cultural heritage, each of them being unique in its history and art.
In this section you will find short presentations on the main churches of Venice. Many of them are open for visits, others look permanently closed or have been deconsacrated and are now used for other purposes. Some of Venetian churches are world-famous, while others are more quite and almost forgotten by visitors.
Romanic, Gothic, Neoclassical or Baroque, Venetian churches are definitely an open art book, delighting visitors’ eyes with their white marbles and intense paintings.
Beside a good guide book and an open spirit ready to be captivated, we recommend to wear always appropriate clothes to visit churches in Venice, as visitors may otherwise be denied access.

  • Santa Maria dei Carmini (Church)

    Carmini church of Venice was built in early XVI century, however a first religious building existed here since XIII century, founded by the Carmelites order. Carmini church worked together with…

  • Santa Maria dei Derelitti (Church)

     Santa Maria dei Derelitti church in Venice is also known as Ospedaletto church, because it was part of one of the four ospedali that housed orphans and poor, sick, elder people. Orphan…

  • Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Church)

    Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Venice (Saint Mary of the Miracles) was built in 1480 in this quiet corner of Cannaregio, alongside the narrow canal, in order to worship an…

  • Santa Maria del Giglio (Church)

    Santa Maria del Giglio church is also known as Santa Maria Zobenigo, due to the corruption of the name of Jubanico family (of Slavic origin), who had built the first…

  • Santa Maria del Rosario / dei Gesuati (Church)

     Gesuati church, officially dedicated to Santa Maria del Rosario, was built in 1524 by the Poor Gesuati order, which had arrived in Venice from Tuscany. After the suppression of Gesuati…

  • Santa Maria della Consolazione / della Fava (Church)

     Santa Maria della Fava in Venice is officially dedicated to Santa Maria della Consolazione because it hosts a painting of the Virgin which was believed to be a miracoulous one…

  • Santa Maria della Presentazione / delle Zitelle (Church)

     Zitelle church was built in the late XVI century on Giudecca island, and was part of a complex which had the purpose of housing poor young single women whose families…

  • Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica)

     Santa Maria della Salute church - or just Salute basilica - was built after the terrible epidemic of plague of 1629-1630, which killed about a third of Venice population. Santa…

  • Santa Maria della Visitazione / La Pietà (Church)

     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…

  • Santa Maria di Nazareth / degli Scalzi (Church)

    Santa Maria di Nazareth church in Venice was founded by Barefoot Carmelites friars and finished in 1689. The baroque facade, thought still ordered and armonious, was designed by Longhena. Even…