Europe: Italy: Venice: Places to See (part two)
May 12th, 2009Travelling
Piazza San Marco of rectangular form like an immense salon rich with precious marbles, is considered the most beautiful in the world. It is enclosed to the north by the Torre dell’Orologlo (Clock Tower, 1496) with its famous statues of two Moors who sound the hours, and by the Procuratie Vecchie, ancient home of the Procurators of St. Mark; to the west by the Napoleonic wing; to the south by the Procuratie Nuove (1585-1640).
On the eastern side, which opens to the Lagoon, stands the Basilica Di San Marco (11th to 15th centuries), built in Romanesque-Byzantine style, with five cupolas of oriental aspect, to hold the body of St. Mark the Evangelist. On the terrace which divides the two stories of the facade stands the famous work of Greek origin, the copper-gilt Four Horses (4th to 3rd centuries, В. C.).
From the atrium, lined with marbles and columns and with its splendid vaulted mosaic ceiling illustrating stories from the Bible (13th a), one reaches the church’s three entrance portals, with the”well” of the central portal which allows for the sight of the vaulted mosaic ceiling depicting Paradise (11th c.).
The interior, in the form of a Greek cross with three naves per arm, divided by colonnades along which run the galleries (matronei), is resplendent with golden light reflected by the mosaics which cover the walls and vaulted ceilings. These mosaics, initially the work of Venetian and Byzantine artists, were in part redone following cartoons made by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. The earlier mosaics can be recognized by their stylized forms and the hieratic character of the figures such as Christ, Mary, the Prophets and Apostles, and in particular the Ascension in the central cupola. On the ciborium-covered altar (6th – 13th centuries) is the famous Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece which is a masterpiece of goldsmith’s art from the 10th century, studded with gold, gems and enamels.
The Campanile (Bell-tower, height 96,80 m.) is isolated and at ist foot stands the sumptuous marble Loggetta by Sansovino (1540).
Piazzetta San Marco faces on to the San Marco basin, confined to the west by the Libreria Vecchia and to the east by the Palazzo Ducale. From the quay rise two columns (12th c.) with statues of the lions of San Marco and San Teodoro.
The Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace), built from 1309 to 1442 in the most elegant Venetian-Gothic forms, was the residence of the Doges and the seat of the Republic’s highest offices. Entering by way of the richly-decorated Porta della Carta, one sees the Courtyard, the Scala dei Giganti (Giant’s Staircase) with its statues by Sansovino and, in the interior, the loggia, the Scala d’Oro (Golden Staircase), the ducal apartments, the decorated ceiling and the collection of works by great painters such as Titian (Doge Grimani), Tintoretto (panels), Veronese (the Rape of Europa and panels).
The Libereria Vecchia (1536-88), designed by Sansovino in pure Venetian style, conserves the relics of St. Mark’s library (illuminated codexes, paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese, the Flemish Grimani Breviary) and was its original seat. In the Archeological Museum are Greek and Roman sculptures of particular interest (5th to 4th centuries, B.C.).
The Canal Grande (Grand Canal) wich crosses the city, dividing it into two parts, is flanked by 14th and 15th century palaces in Gothic architecture with characteristic pointed arches and a fairy-like interweaving of forms; it is the site of traditional races and manifestations and is continually traversed by gondolas and “vaporetti” (motor-boats) in a festival of light and color, offering a spectacle unique in the world.
The church of Santa Maria Della Salute is situated near the Dogana (Customshouse) point, and was erected (1631-80) by B. Longhena; works by Titian and Tintoretto (the Marriage of Cana) are to be seen in the interior.
The Ponte dell’Accademia and the Gallerie Dell’ Academia with its historic collection of great Venetian art Mantegna (St. George), Piero della Francesca (San Gerolamo), Giovanni Bellini (Madonna degli Alberelli), Allegorie Giorgione (the Tempest), Lotto (Portrait of a Gentleman), Titian (Pieta), Tintoretto (the Miracles of St. Mark), Veronese (Madonna and Saints), Carpaccio (the Legend of St. Ursula), etc.
Palazzo Rezzonico, a Baroque construction (1660), designed by B. Longhena and site of the Museo del Set-tecento wich features 18th century works.
Ca’ Foscari, built in the Gothic style of the 15th century with two loggias having 8 arches each.
Ponte Di Rialto, a majestic bridge, the most famous in Venice, created by A. da Ponte (1592) and constructed in a single arc spanning 28 m., 7,50 m. high, crossed by three flights of steps and their shops.
Palazzo Pesaro, a Baroque edifice designed by Longhena (1710), is the seat of the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Oriental Art.
Fondaco Dei Turchi, in Venetian-Byzantine style, entirely redone, seat of the Museum of Natural History.
Palazzo Corner, called Ca’ Grande; shows Sanso vino’s architecture in Classic stvle (1537).
Ca’ D’Oro, the most beautiful palace on the Grand Canal, built by B. Bon and M. Raverti (15th c.) with a polychrome marble-covered facade, once gilded. This is a masterpiece of Venetian-Gothic fantasy and is today the site of the Galleria Franchetti which houses works by Mantegna (St. Sebastian), Van Dyck (Portrait of a Gentleman), Pontormo, Guardi, etc.
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, begun by M. Coducci in Renaissance style was finished by Lombardo (1510). Here Richard Wagner lived until his death in 1883.
San Sebastiano, a church famous for its paintings by Veronese (the Stories of Esther, the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian), who is buried here.
Scuola Dl San Giovanni Evangelista is composed of a Renaissance court by Pier Lombardo, a Gothic church and the School. Inside there is a double-ramp staircase by Coducci (1498), paintings and a precious Gothic reliquary (Oratorio della Croce).
Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari – pantheon of Venetian glories, the church was erected (1338-1445) by Franciscans, in Gothic form. The bell-tower was built in 1396. The interior houses monuments to the Doges and other illustrious Venetians (14th to 18th centuries), a choir with carved and inlaid wooden stalls (1468) and works by Giovanni Bellini (a triptych of the Madonna and Saints), Donatello (altarpiece with a statue of the Baptist), Titian (altarpiece of the Assumption, Madonna di Casa Pesaro), Sansovino, Vivarini, Longhena, Canova, etc.
Scuola Di San Rocco, constructed between 1517 and 1549 and celebrated for its rooms decorated with large canvases by Tintoretto. The fagade is by Scarpagnino. The church of San Rocco also contains works by Tintoretto (San Rocco Curing the Plagueridden).
Santa Maria Formosa, erected in 1492 by M. Coducci in Renaissance style, has a harmonious three-nave interior with deeply-recessed chapels. Palma the Elder’s polyptych depicting St. Barbara and Four Saints is to be seen here. The Baroque bell-tower dates from the 17th c.
Pinacoteca Querini Stampalia conserves in its 20 rooms, 18th c. furnishings and works of Venetian artists from the 14th to the 18th centuries.
Campo San Zanipolo, a monumental square whose center holds the famous Colleoni Equestrian Statue, masterpiece of the Florentine Andrea del Verrocchio (1488). It is enclosed by the fagades of the magnificent church of SS Giovanni E Paolo or San Zanipolo and the Scuola dl San Marco (1488-1500). The former was built in Gothic style by Dominicans (1246-1430), while the marble portal is the work of B. Bon. In the vast, three-naved interior, which has a polygonal apse, there are monuments to illustrious personages and works by P. Lombardo (Doge Mocenigo), Bissolo (Madonna and Saints); Giovanni Bellini (polyptych), Piazzetta (St. Dominick), L Lotto, Veronese, Nino Pisano (monument of the Doge M. Corner).
Santa Maria Dei Miracoli, a most beautiful early Venetian Renaissance work, covered with polychrome marbles (Pier Lombardo, 1489).
San Zaccaria, first constructed in Gothic form and later transformed by M. Coducci with the creation of the typical fagade (1480-1500). Inside, along the walls, are large canvases by G. Bellini, Tintoretto, Palma the Elder, Andrea del Castagno (frescos of the Eternal Father and Saints).
Scuola Dl Sangiorgio Deglt Schiavoni was built in the early 1500s and is famous for the paintings by Carpaccio which decorate the ground-floor salon.
Riva Degli Schiavoni, once the docksite for ancent ships, today is a stupendous promenade along the San Marco basin. Here are to be found the church of Santa Maria della Pieta (paintings by Tiepolo and Moretto da Brescia); the Hotel Danieli (15th c); the Baroque Prisons building which is connected to the Doge’s Palace by the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) across which the prisoners once walked; and, in Piazza San Biasio, the Museo Storico Navale (Museum of Naval History).
San Giorgio Maggiore, majestic, Classic style church created by Palladio (1565-80) and finished by Scamozzi (1610). The interior holds works by Tintoretto (Last Supper, Deposition), V. Carpaccio (St. George and the Dragon); from the bell-tower one has a beautiful panorama of both city and Lagoon.
Chiesa Del Redentore, designed by Palladio (1577-90).
Gli Scalzi, Longhena’s Baroque church whose vaulted ceilings were painted by Teipolo.
San Giobbe, a 15th c. church in Gothic-Renaissance style.
Madonna Dell’orto, a typical Venetian-Gothic church whose fagade is ornamented with statues and beautiful portals, it encloses the tomb of Tintoretto (1594) and important works by him (Presentation of Mary in the Temple).
San Francesco Della Vigna designed by Sansovino, the 16th c. church has an interior rich in works of art (A. da Negroponte, Bragadin, P. Lombardo, G. Bellini, Veronese).
Murano, a typical lagoon settlement, is famous for its glass-works which go back to the 18th century. To be seen are, in the Palace of Justinian, the Museo dell’Arte Vetraria (ancient and Murano glass, 14th – 18th centuries) and the Romanesque-Byzantine church of SS. Maria e Donato (12th c).
Burano, a characteristic agglomerate extending over four islands, is famous for its lace-making (Scuola dei Merietti). Not far away is island of San Francesco dei Deserto, a solitary Franciscan retreat dating back to the 12th c.
Torcello, situated to the extreme north of the lagoon, boasts monuments which testify to the earliest Venetian settlements (8th-9th centuries). The Cathedral dates back to the 8th c. and conserves mosaics and dates back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries (Last Judgement, Madonna and Child). The church of Santa Fosca is a Romanesque construction from the 9th century.
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2 Responses to “Europe: Italy: Venice: Places to See (part two)”
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December 17th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Hi, just wondering what church in the above photo is.
Thanks
March 16th, 2010 at 10:10 am
cool thanks for sharing are there feeds to your blog? I’d like to save them