Church of Santa Maria Formosa
5263 Calle Seconda de la Fava Venezia
The Church of Santa Maria Formosa is one of the oldest and most important churches in Venice. According to tradition, it was first founded in the 7th century by the Bishop of Oderzo. He said he had a vision of the Virgin Mary appearing to him as a beautiful woman—formosa means “beautiful” in Latin. Santa Maria Formosa holds several important works of art. Visitors can see paintings by famous Venetian artists like Bartolomeo Vivarini and Palma il Vecchio.
Recommended Nearby:
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the most iconic landmarks in Venice. The basilica holds the relics of St. Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark and the patron saint of Venice, which were smuggled from Alexandria to Venice in the 9th century. The church has served as the religious heart of Venice for nearly a millennium—first as the private chapel of the Doge, and now as the city’s official cathedral.
Church and Crypt of San Zaccaria
The Church of San Zaccaria is a special place for anyone interested in the crypts of Venice. The church was founded in the 9th century and is named after Saint Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Under the church is a crypt where early rulers of Venice and abbesses were buried.
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Images by Didier Descouens, licensed under CC BY‑SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons.