San Pietro di Castello (church)
Basilica di San Pietro di Castello Basilica of St Peter of Castello | |
---|---|
minor basilica, parish church | |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Venice, Italy |
Geographic coordinates | 45°26′4.37″N 12°21′35.47″E / 45.4345472°N 12.3598528°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Francesco Smeraldi, Andrea Palladio (design) |
Type | Church |
Groundbreaking | 7th century |
Completed | 16th century |
Specifications | |
Direction of façade | WNW |
Length | 75 metres (246 ft) |
Width | 35 metres (115 ft) |
Width (nave) | 16 metres (52 ft) |
Website | |
www.patriarcatovenezia.it |
The Basilica di San Pietro di Castello (English: Basilica of St Peter of Castello), commonly called San Pietro di Castello, is a
After
The church is located on San Pietro di Castello (from which it derives its name), a small island off the eastern end of the main city of Venice.
History
The earliest structure on the site dates from the 7th century.[1] It was one of the eight churches founded by St. Magnus (Italian: San Magno), the Bishop of Oderzo, who came to the Venetian lagoon during this period. At the time there was no city but simply a collection of small communities scattered throughout the marshy islands. In a vision St. Peter (Italian: San Pietro) appeared to Magnus and instructed him to found a church where he saw oxen and sheep grazing side by side. The location was found and St. Magnus built the church, dedicating it to St. Peter.[2][3]
The first
In 1558 Andrea Palladio, in his first commission in the city of Venice, prepared an improved design for the facade and interior of San Pietro.[5] However, the Patriarch who had commissioned Palladio, Vincenzo Diedo, died before the plans could be implemented. Later, between 1594 and 1596 the architect Francesco Smeraldi implemented a modified and less ambitious version of Palladio's original design, the changes possibly attributable to a lack of funds.[4][6][7]
In 1807
Exterior
The church exhibits a muted facade compared to other Palladian designs in Venice. It features a prominent set of four
The church has a large dome which indicates the church's ecclesiastical importance, sharing an affinity with San Giorgio Maggiore and Il Redentore both churches designed by Palladio. The dome is supported on a drum which has rectangular windows cut into it to let light into the building.
The church's campanile is one of the most precarious in Venice.[1]
-
Church of San Pietro di Castello, by Edward Angelo Goodall (1819–1908)
-
Bell tower
-
The basilica view from the lagoon.
-
Campo San Pietro.
Interior
The building has a large central
Artwork
The church contains only a few notable works of art including SS John the Evangelist, Peter and Paul by Paolo Veronese and the altarpiece in the Vendramin Chapel by Luca Giordano.[1] The church also contains the Throne of St Peter, a 13th-century seat cut from a funeral stone.
References
- ^ ISBN 1-84353-302-2.
- ^ In an alternative version of the legend, St. Magnus found the location already had a church on it dedicated to another Saint. In this version Magnus had the church re-built and re-dedicated it to St. Peter.
- ^ "Churches in Venice - San Magno and his eight churches". Slow Travel. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ a b Ruskin, John (1851). The Stones of Venice. Vol. 1. New York: Wiley. p. 351.
- ^ Weissmüller 2005, p. 27.
- ^ Weissmüller 2005, p. 22.
- World Monument Fund. Archived from the originalon 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ^ Weissmüller 2005, p. 25.
- ^ Weissmüller 2005, p. 30.
Sources
- Weissmüller, Alberto (2005). Palladio in Venice. Grafiche Vianello Srl. p. 168. ISBN 88-7200-174-9.