A remarkable domed church, a pioneering work of Renaissance architecture and a haven of peace and calm away from the crowds of Venice.
One of Venice’s most picturesque churches, the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Church of St Mary of Miracles) rests snugly between a public square and a canal in the quiet, relaxed Cannaregio district. Located around half an hour away from the noise and crowds of central Venice, from the outside, the domed church is photograph-perfect, while when you head inside you’ll get to explore a stunning, peaceful space.
Arrive by gondola for the ideal approach to the church, which you’ll see reflecting in the waters on a sunny day. In the leafy district nearby you’ll see local Venetian folk sipping cappuccinos as you head through the square and into the church itself, an elegant building recognisable from its curved pediment and peaked dome.
Designed in the 1480s by one of the Venetian Renaissance’s founding fathers, Pietro Lombardo, this church lies on a pivotal spot in the history of Catholicism in Venice. It was here that the first pilgrims came to make offerings to an icon of Mary which was reputed to perform miracles, even allegedly once reviving a drowned man.
When you arrive inside the church you’ll be mesmerised by the airy, open space as light floods the building from above the high altar, illuminating the centrepiece image of Mary known as Il Miracoli (The Miracle). The soft colours of the marble on the walls of the church outside continue as you make your way indoors. Each of the fifty square coffers above is adorned with a painting of a prophet dressed in traditional Venetian style. On the railings of the marble staircase you can pause and admire the figures of Mary and her angels that are carved into the railings.
Situated to the northeast of the Rialto Bridge in Cannaregio, the Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli is open daily—although on Sundays it is open for just two hours in the afternoon. A small charge is made for entry, though on Sundays this is sometimes waived. Bear in mind you won’t be allowed to take photos inside the church itself.
