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Santa Maria dei Miracoli : The narrow, tall nave has a raised altar so that everyone can see the venerated painting of the Virgin
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Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Renaissance 'Jewel Box' Church

Marble church housing the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary.

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What makes it special

Father & sons

The church was designed, built and decorated by Pietro Lombardo, his sons Tullio and Antonio and their workshop.

The 'marble church'

According to legend, they creatively repurposed the marbles that were supposedly leftover from the construction of St. Mark's Basilica.

From painting to church

At the high altar, a painting of the Virgin Mary - dating back to around 1400 - was originally intended for private devotion. When it was later placed in a public votive niche, it was said to have performed miracles, inspiring the construction of the church on the same site.

A ceiling that looks back at you

Each of the 52 wooden coffered ceiling panels depicts a vibrant portrait of a saint or prophet dressed as a Venetian from the 1400s.

Santa Maria dei Miracoli : The vaulted ceiling features 52 vivid portraits of saints and prophets

Discover more about Santa Maria dei Miracoli through 6 photos with explanations.

Open gallery

What to expect here

  • Step inside what's often called a 'Renaissance jewelry box'.
  • Let yourself be enveloped by harmonious proportions and elegant simplicity.
  • But that doesn't mean you'll get bored - the intricate veined marble and sculpted details are endlessly captivating.

Other works by Pietro Lombardo

Aided once again by his sons, he sculpted several Venetian tombs in the late 15th century.

A fine example is the Monument to Doge Mocenigo inside the Gothic giant San Zanipolo, where his remarkable mastery of marble is on full display.

San Zanipolo : Monument to Pietro Mocenigo — one of the 25 Doges buried in the church — crafted by the same father-and-sons team who designed and decorated Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Find his work here

What to see nearby

These top spots are just a short walk from Santa Maria dei Miracoli:

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