L.L. Diamond

When you cross that first bridge in Venice, La chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino is at the opposite side of a small square across from the German consulate. The temple facade caught our eye, so we decided to investigate and boy, am I glad we did!

La chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino translates to The church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, and has been a Catholic church since the 16th or 17th century (I had to translate the Wiki page on it’s history, so sorry for any issues arising from that!). It was named for an Augustinian friar, who was proclaimed the patron saint of souls in Purgatory by Pope Leo XIII in 1884.

The church was erected between 1591 and 1602, and designed and built by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Between 1706 and 1714, Andrea Tirali added the portico, the tympanum, and six Corinthian columns to the exterior, which had been unfinished.

I wish I could’ve taken my own photos inside this beautiful building, but they do not allow it. Thank goodness for Wikimedia Commons, who actually has photos of the stunning insides. I must admit that though the outside is nice, I was not prepared when I entered and caught a glimpse of the interior.

 

Next stop in Venice: Scuole Grande di San Rocco

 

 

Photo credits:
Chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino in Venice. General view of the interior of the church. Photo by Didier Descouens.
Chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino in Venice. Ceiling : “Glory of St. Gaetano” of Mattia Bortoloni Photo by Didier Descouens.
Chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino in Venice. The maine altar alla romana polychrome marble, with a large tabernacle in the shape of small allegory temple of the Holy Sepulcher directed by Baldassarre Longhena. The two worshipers angels and six angels caryatids by Josse de Corte. Photo by Didier Descouens.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_of_Tolentino
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_San_Nicola_da_Tolentino_%28Venezia%29