Description

Essentials about Santa Maria dei Miracoli in brief

Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Holy Mary of Miracles) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful churches in Venice. Located in the Cannaregio district, the church is best known for its characteristic multicolored marble cladding and houses the famous image of the Madonna and Child, to whom miraculous powers are attributed.

The history of Santa Maria dei Miracoli

In 1408 Francesco Amadi commissioned an image of the Madonna and Child from Nicolo di Pietro. Over time, a deep belief in the miraculous powers of this image developed. In order to create a suitable “frame” for the image, an entire complex of houses in Cannaregio was demolished at the end of the 15th century and the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli was built between 1481 and 1489 by Pietro Lombardo and his sons. Santa Maria dei Miracoli is considered an architectural masterpiece of the early Renaissance.

The architecture of Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Pietro Lombardo and his sons had only a very small and almost rectangular area to build the church. Therefore, the church consists only of a nave with barrel vault. Attached to it is an almost square apse with a dome. Outside and inside the church was decorated with marble in many different colors, which makes the church a pearl of Cannaregio. To protect it from moisture, the walls were hollow.

The famous painting of the Madonna and Child can be seen above the altar. Very precious is also the barrel vault, decorated with wooden coffers and fifty paintings of profetes and patriarchs by Pier Maria Pennacchi. Also noteworthy are the figures of the four evangelists in the pendentives of the dome and the old wooden choir of the nuns, once connected by a passage to the now abandoned convent.

Website

de.turismovenezia.it/Chiesa-di-Santa-Maria-dei-Miracoli

Opening hours

Admission fees

Full: €3.00

Concessions: €1.50

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Vaporetto lines 1 and A: Stop Rialto

Vaporetto lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 13, 22, B, NLN and NMU: Stop F.te Nove

By car:

Inaccessible.