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This site grew out of my frustration that there wasn't a site like
it, or indeed a comprehensive book available in English.
The churches are divided up by sestiere - the six 'boroughs'
of Venice. I've added an extra page for Giudecca, which is not a sestiere -
it's actually part of Dorsoduro - but is a separate enough entity to
deserve one I think. There are also pages devoted to the
islands and to demolished churches, the latter page being still unfinished. Artists, architects and saints might
get their own pages at some time in the future. I suppose I must
point out that, contradictory (and maybe even contrary) as it may seem to some, this is a
religion-free site. My interest is artistic, historical, and also
non-pompous. I am respectful of others' beliefs, usually, and expect them
to be respectful of my personal convictions too.
Each church's history
is told, followed by a description of its architecture, artistic
highlights, unique features, the art it has lost and/or any interesting stories. The degree to
which each topic is covered will vary, depending on the information
available and what makes each church interesting and worth visiting, as
will the amount of personal observation and opinion in each piece. The
latter depends on if the church has been visited by me, and how recently, and
it's this aspect that will keep the site improving for a good long while,
I think. My intention is to tell you what makes each church special,
rather than to list all of its features and contents. As I progress I'm finding that
I'm becoming more interested in digging out the sparse facts about forgotten
churches rather than writing about the churches that are well-enough covered
elsewhere. Each entry also tells you the nearest vaporetto stop and
a link to it's position on a special
Google map. And then there's the opening times - I'll endeavour to keep these times as accurate as
possible, but it's always a good idea to check before travelling, and to
be prepared for disappointment.
The photos are mostly mine, except where noted.
There's also an alphabetical list of all the churches
and a page giving my sources
(click here to send me an encouraging e-mail)
This is Me
This site now has its own Facebook page...
Friends of Fictional Cities and the Churches of Venice
& Florence
Click on the link and Like the page for
regular news updates.
And you can post your (positive) comments too.
Progress reports
April 2013
Following on from February's adjustments I'm
gradually revising each sestiere/page by incorporating the sections
called A visit into the other entries. This has served to do
away with duplication of information and I've taken out some of the
more frivolous stuff too as I've been told that its tone was
inappropriate for a proper and serious book, this being my end in
doing this revising. The A visit paragraphs were basically just adjusted
bits of my Trip
Reports, which will remain hot-beds of frivolity and
cake-eating, have no fear.
My idea now if for the book of Churches of Venice to be
structured as a series of walks, maybe two for each sestiere, with
an index, of course, for finding the church's entries directly. I
can thereby provide something new with 'added content'. All comments
and encouragement welcome.
February 2013
Going through each sestiere, I've made the 'reading' text
on each page 10pt (rather than 12) for various reasons, fixing
each entry's layout as I go. I've added some content too, mostly
involving lost paintings, and improved the Demolished page in a few
ways. I'm also cut'n'pasting just the text for
each church into a separate file for the eventual creation of...the
book!
November 2012
Adding some scaffolding news and photos of the
interior of San Lorenzo, now possible due to its being used as
Mexico's Biennale venue. A visit to a Canaletto/Guardi exhibition in
Paris (and a catalogue purchase) has provided image insight into
changes to San Geremia and San Zanipolo. Checking the Chorus site
for news while I'm updating provides the worrying announcement
The church of Madonna dell'Orto will
be open until 31st December 2012. Then what?!
May/June 2012
Added some details about the assassination of
Lorenzini de'Medici to entries for San
Polo, outside which it was committed, and (who knew?)
Spirito Santo, to where the
assassins fled. And new photos for
Sant'Isepo, San Simeon
Piccolo, and Santa Maria
Assunta on the Lido.
February 2012
I've finished the Humfrey book mentioned below, and have spruced up
my entries here with any juicy new info it provided. I'm now going
to devote myself more to my new
Florence churches site.
Not that this one is finished, oh no. The Demolished page is
especially in need of work. Aside from the entries I also need to
improve its organisation and make the resulting list more complete.
Copyright © Jeff Cotton 2007-2013
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