Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a basilica church on the island of Torcello, Venice, northern Italy. It is a notable example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture, one of the most ancient religious edifices in the Veneto.
According to an ancient inscription, it was founded by the exarch Isaac of Ravenna in 639. The baptistery, whose remains are visible next to the church's façade, is also from the 7th century, while the bell tower dates from the 11th century.
The Cathedral was largely restored in 864 and 1004.
The most striking exterior features are the decoration of the façade and the frontal portico, enlarged in the 14th century. The interior, with a nave and two aisles, has a marble pavement, the throne of the bishops of Altino and the sepulchre of St. Heliodorus, first bishop of Altino. Noteworthy is also a painting depicting a Madonna with Child in the middle apse 815th century).
The most important artistical element of the cathedral: a series of mosaics of Byzantine-Ravennate school, including a Last Judgement in the counter-façade.
[edit] External links
- Page at Venice's Portal (Italian)
