One of the major and most beautiful Campi in Venice, near one of my favourite spots (the bookshop Acqua Alta), is for sure the Campo di Santa Maria Formosa with the homonymous church (latin „formosa“ = beautiful) built by the bishop Magno of Oderzo during the Langobard attacks in the VIIth century.

According to a legend, the bishop Magno saw the Virgin Mary in his dreams asking him to built a church in her honour in the very same place where he would see a white cloud coming to a stop. (Actually, when I come to think about it, quite a lot of churches in Venice were built due to such dreams, visions, … of saints.)

History

The church was in the beginning a simple hut built of hay and clay (and btw. the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Venetian lagoon!) rebuilt probably in 842 by Giovanni Sanudo.

The church was rebuilt several times during Venetian history, but the most important interventions took place in 1106, when a huge fire destroyed the church (and also the Ducal Palace and the Saint Mark’s Church), and in 1491 when Mauro Codussi started to rebuilt the severly damaged church according to the new ideals of Renaissance architecture. (Mauro Codussi died before seeing the church completed.)

Venezia: Santa Maria Formosa - Facciata Laterale
Venezia: Santa Maria Formosa – Facciata Laterale

The Festa delle Marie

As the church was for a long time the only church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was very important during the „Festa della Marie“ that is still celebrated nowadays during Carnival (the procession with the 12 Maries and the Doge ended in this very church).

The main face of Santa Maria Formosa

is dedicated to the capitano da mar Vincenzo Cappello (and sponsored by the family Cappello) and a second face of the church (facing the Campo) to other important members of the family Cappello.

Venezia: Santa Maria Formosa - Vincenzo Cappello
Venezia: Santa Maria Formosa – Vincenzo Cappello

Partial destruction of the church during the 1st World War

A slab next to the entrance commemorates the destruction of the cupola on the 9th of August 2016 by the Austrian army.

Most important piece of art Trittico della Misericordia by Vivarini

Additional information: Chorus Pass

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  •   Beatrice was just wonderful! She made this tour fun for both adults and kids - and we learned so much! Definitely to be recommended!!

    thumb Tonja
    February 19, 2024
  •   Wer in Venedig einen Blick abseits des Tourismus bzw. den großen Plätzen werfen will, denen kann ich die Tour mit Beatrice wirklich ans Herz legen. Gerade vielleicht am Anfang... read more

    thumb Chalin
    February 10, 2024
  •   Wir hatten sehr kurzfristig und spontan eine Tour mit Beatrice buchen können und waren sehr happy über diesen “Glücksgriff”! Sie hat uns wirklich tolle Ecken gezeigt, sehr viel Interessantes erzählt... read more

    thumb Monique
    August 28, 2023
  •   Vielen Dank für den wunderbaren Nachmittag-wunderbare versteckte Ecken in San Marco gesehen und reichlich Tipps für die nächsten Male bekommen wie Museen,Bars usw.

    thumb Jens
    November 8, 2022
  •   We had a total blast at Beatrices tour. She showed us a lot of hidden corners in Venice and we moved off the beaten track. She was super knowledgable, provided... read more

    thumb Tabea
    October 30, 2022
  •   Beatrice hat uns Venedig auf wundervolle Weise ein Stück näher gebracht. Auch mein Sohn war sehr interessiert dabei. Absolut empfehlenswert!!

    thumb Helena
    October 24, 2022
  •   sehr empfehlenswert !!!

    thumb Joachim
    October 24, 2022
  •   Toll!

    thumb Rebecca
    June 13, 2022
  •   Ich kann Beatrice herzlich empfehlen. Sie liebt Venedig, hat viel Wissen darüber und kann es bestens vermitteln, darüber hinaus in Ecken ohne Touristen.

    thumb Ivana
    June 8, 2022
  •   Es war eine sehr schöne Tour und Beatrix konnte wirklich auf jede Frage eine Antwort geben.

    thumb Annette
    May 28, 2022
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