Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice
Venice's Santa Maria dei Miracoli overlooks a canal on one
side and a little square on the other. Photo © Paradoxplace.com.
Canal running alongside the church. Photo
Martin Belam.
The pastel, marble-covered exterior. Photo
Craig Moe.
Facade of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Photo
Sara Fach.
Interior of the church with miraculous image. Photo © Paradoxplace.com.
Tucked away at a charming canal crossing in a quiet corner of the residential section of Cannaregio, northeast of the Rialto Bridge, is the small 15th-century Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
One of the most attractive religious buildings in Europe, one side of its polychrome-marbled facade runs alongside a canal, creating colorful and shimmering reflections. The Miracoli (as it is commonly known) is once again open to the public after an extensive 10-year renovation.
History
In 1470s Venice, an image of the Virgin Mary was responsible for a series of miracles (including bringing back to life someone who spent half an hour at the bottom of the Giudecca Canal). The reported miracles led pilgrims to leave gifts and, eventually, enough donations to have this church built.
The church was built in the 1480s to house the image, known as I Miracoli (The Miraculous). It is still displayed over the main altar.
The architect was Pietro Lombardo (c.1435-1515), a local artisan whose background in monuments and tombs is obvious in his work.
He miraculously compressed the building into its confined space, then created the illusion of greater size by various artistic means (more details below). Lombardo would go on to become one of the founding fathers of the Venetian Renaissance.
What to See
Tiny yet perfectly proportioned, this early Renaissance gem is sheathed in marble and decorated inside with exquisite marble reliefs. Architect Pietro Lombardo created an illusion of size by varying the color of the exterior, adding extra pilasters on the building's canal side, and offsetting the arcade windows to make the arches appear deeper.
The exterior has been compared by some to an oversized tomb with a dome on top, but the many couples who have made this perfectly proportioned church their choice for weddings will dispel such insensitivity. The small square in front is the perfect place for gondolas to drop off and pick up the newly betrothed.
The interior of Santa Maria dei Miracoli is intricately decorated with early Renaissance marble reliefs and proudly displays the miraculous image of the Virgin on the high altar. The pastel palette of pink, gray, and white marble makes an appropriately elegant venue for all those weddings.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Campo Santa Maria Nova, midway between the Rialto Bridge and the Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo. |
| Phone: | 041/2750462 |
| Vaporetto: | Rialto |
| Hours: | Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 3-5pm |
| Cost: | 2€ or 8€ on cumulative ticket (Chorus Pass) |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Venice Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Article Sources
- Frommer's Northern Italy
- Fodor's Venice and the Venetian Arc
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli - Paradoxplace.com
