Chiesa di Santa Maria di Nazareth (Church of St. Mary of Nazareth), Venice

Adjacent to the modern Santa Lucia railway station, you will find the church of Santa Maria di Nazareth, commonly known as the Scalzi. The term "scalzi" refers to the barefoot Carmelite friars who arrived in Venice during the 1670s and commissioned the construction of this church along the Grand Canal.

The facade, completed by Giuseppe Sardi between 1672-80, is truly striking, adorned with numerous statues; however, it is the vast Baroque interior that will truly leave you awe-inspired. Designed by Baldassare Longhena, the interior exudes a theatrical grandeur, characterized by lavish marble, intricately gilded woodwork, and magnificent sculptures.

While exploring the interior, be sure to gaze up at the ceiling painting titled "Proclamation of the Maternity of the Virgin at the Council of Ephesus", a masterpiece by Ettore Tito dating back to 1934. This artwork replaced an earlier fresco by Tiepolo, sadly destroyed in October 1915 by an Austrian bomb intended for the nearby train station.

Before leaving the church, be sure to visit the lovely gift shop, where you may find delightful mementos or souvenirs to commemorate your visit.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Tony Hisgett.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Venice. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sight Name: Chiesa di Santa Maria di Nazareth (Church of St. Mary of Nazareth)
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Venice, Italy

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