Altars: Difference between revisions

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| [[High Altar in the Left Chapel of Chiesa S. Giacomo dell'Orio]] || [[Church of San Giacomo dell'Orio]] || Leandro, Luca, Prospero || 3 bodies: San Leandro, San Luca, San prospero  |-
| [[High Altar in the Left Chapel of Chiesa S. Giacomo dell'Orio]] || [[Church of San Giacomo dell'Orio]] || Leandro, Luca, Prospero || 3 bodies: San Leandro, San Luca, San prospero  |-
| [[High Altar in the First Chapel on the Right of Chiesa dei Frari]] || [[Church of I Frari]] || No Saint Depicted || Blood of Christ  |-
| [[High Altar in the First Chapel on the Right of Chiesa dei Frari]] || [[Church of I Frari]] || No Saint Depicted || Blood of Christ   
| [[First Altar on the Left of Chiesa di Madona della Salute]] || [[Church of La Salute]] || Maria || Bodies of Holy Martyrs Justus and Fabian  |-
|-
| [[Altar of Santa Elena Chiesa di S. Elena]] || [[Church of Sant'Elena]] || Elena || Body  |-
| [[First Altar on the Left of Chiesa di Madona della Salute]] || [[Church of La Salute]] || Maria || Bodies of Holy Martyrs Justus and Fabian   
| [[Altar of Santa Juliana in Chiesa di Santa Eufemia]] || [[Church of San Eufemia]] || Juliana || Body  |-
|-
| [[Altar of Santa Maria, San Antonio, Santa Veneranda of Chiesa di S. Sofia]] || [[Church of Santa Sofia]] || Maria, Antonio, Veneranda || Body |-
| [[Altar of Santa Elena Chiesa di S. Elena]] || [[Church of Sant'Elena]] || Elena || Body   
| [[Altar of Santa Rosa di Lima of Chiesa dei Gesuati]] || [[Church of Santa Giustina]] || Rosa di Lima, Caterina da Siena, Agnese da Montepulciano || Body  |-
|-
| [[Altar of the Gardian Angel of Chiesa SS. Apostoli]] || [[Church of I Santi Apostoli]] || No Saint Depicted || Body |-
| [[Altar of Santa Juliana in Chiesa di Santa Eufemia]] || [[Church of San Eufemia]] || Juliana || Body   
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Maria del Carmine]] || [[Church of I Carmini]] || No Saint Depicted || Body |-
|-
| [[Third Altar on the Right Chiesa dei Gesuati]] || [[Church of Santa Giustina]] || Lodovico Bertrando, Vincenzo Ferreri, Giacinto || Body |-
| [[Altar of Santa Maria, San Antonio, Santa Veneranda of Chiesa di S. Sofia]] || [[Church of Santa Sofia]] || Maria, Antonio, Veneranda || Body  
| [[Altar of Annunciazione di Gesu in Chiesa di S. Marcuola]] || [[Church of San Marcuola]] || Pietro Apostolo || Body of a Martyr  |-
|-
| [[Second Altar on the Left of Chiesa di S. Alvise]] || [[Church of Sant'Alvise]] || Antonio e Giuseppe || Body of a Martyr  |-
| [[Altar of Santa Rosa di Lima of Chiesa dei Gesuati]] || [[Church of Santa Giustina]] || Rosa di Lima, Caterina da Siena, Agnese da Montepulciano || Body   
| [[Third Altar on the Right of Chiesa dei SS. Giovanni e Paolo]] || [[Church of San Zanipolo]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of Blessed Dominican Giacomo Salomoni  |-
|-
| [[Altar of San Guiseppe of Chiesa S. Maria di Nazateth Scalzi]] || [[Church of Gli Scalzi]] || Giuseppe || Body of Doge Ludovico Manin  |-
| [[Altar of the Gardian Angel of Chiesa SS. Apostoli]] || [[Church of I Santi Apostoli]] || No Saint Depicted || Body  
| [[Third Altar on the Left of Chiesa S. Maria di Zobenigo]] || [[Church of Santa Maria Zobenigo]] || Justina, Francesco || Body of Francesco Duodo  |-
|-
| [[Fiorentini Family Altar of Chiesa dei Frari]] || [[Church of I Frari]] || Giovanni Battista || Body of Gentilis of Matelica  |-
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Maria del Carmine]] || [[Church of I Carmini]] || No Saint Depicted || Body  
| [[Chiesa dei SS. Giovanni e Paolo]] || [[Church of San Zanipolo]] || Caterina || Body of Piese di S Caterina da Siena  |-
|-
| [[Third Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of S Eustachii  |-
| [[Third Altar on the Right Chiesa dei Gesuati]] || [[Church of Santa Giustina]] || Lodovico Bertrando, Vincenzo Ferreri, Giacinto || Body  
| [[High Altar of Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of S Giovanni, duca di Alessandria  |-
|-
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || Antonio || Body of S Giulio, Body of S Lucilla  |-
| [[Altar of Annunciazione di Gesu in Chiesa di S. Marcuola]] || [[Church of San Marcuola]] || Pietro Apostolo || Body of a Martyr   
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa S. Giacomo dell'Orio]] || [[Church of San Giacomo dell'Orio]] || Maria || Body of S. Fidelis M  |-
|-
| [[High Altar Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || Lorenzo Giustiniani || Body of S. Lorenzo Giustiniani  |-
| [[Second Altar on the Left of Chiesa di S. Alvise]] || [[Church of Sant'Alvise]] || Antonio e Giuseppe || Body of a Martyr   
| [[Altar of Santa Marcellinae of Chiesa di San Fantin]] || [[Church of San Fantin]] || Marcellus || Body of S. Marcellinae  |-
|-
| [[Altar of San Panteleonis of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || Panteleonis || Body of S. Panteleonis  |-
| [[Third Altar on the Right of Chiesa dei SS. Giovanni e Paolo]] || [[Church of San Zanipolo]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of Blessed Dominican Giacomo Salomoni   
| [[Fourth Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || Cosmo || Body of San Cosmo  |-
|-
| [[Scuola Nonzoli Altar of Chiesa di S. Trovaso]] || [[Church of San Geremia]] || Costanzo D'Ancona || Body of San Costanzo D'Ancona  |-
| [[Altar of San Guiseppe of Chiesa S. Maria di Nazateth Scalzi]] || [[Church of Gli Scalzi]] || Giuseppe || Body of Doge Ludovico Manin   
|-
| [[Third Altar on the Left of Chiesa S. Maria di Zobenigo]] || [[Church of Santa Maria Zobenigo]] || Justina, Francesco || Body of Francesco Duodo   
|-
| [[Fiorentini Family Altar of Chiesa dei Frari]] || [[Church of I Frari]] || Giovanni Battista || Body of Gentilis of Matelica   
|-
| [[Chiesa dei SS. Giovanni e Paolo]] || [[Church of San Zanipolo]] || Caterina || Body of Piese di S Caterina da Siena   
|-
| [[Third Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of S Eustachii   
|-
| [[High Altar of Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of S Giovanni, duca di Alessandria   
|-
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || Antonio || Body of S Giulio, Body of S Lucilla   
|-
| [[First Altar on the Right of Chiesa S. Giacomo dell'Orio]] || [[Church of San Giacomo dell'Orio]] || Maria || Body of S. Fidelis M   
|-
| [[High Altar Chiesa di S. Pietro]] || [[Church of San Pietro di Castello]] || Lorenzo Giustiniani || Body of S. Lorenzo Giustiniani   
|-
| [[Altar of Santa Marcellinae of Chiesa di San Fantin]] || [[Church of San Fantin]] || Marcellus || Body of S. Marcellinae   
|-
| [[Altar of San Panteleonis of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || Panteleonis || Body of S. Panteleonis   
|-
| [[Fourth Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Sebastiano]] || [[Church of San Sebastiano]] || Cosmo || Body of San Cosmo   
|-
| [[Scuola Nonzoli Altar of Chiesa di S. Trovaso]] || [[Church of San Geremia]] || Costanzo D'Ancona || Body of San Costanzo D'Ancona   
|-
| [[High Altar of San Donato]] || [[Church of San Donato]] || Maria || Body of San Donato  |-
| [[High Altar of San Donato]] || [[Church of San Donato]] || Maria || Body of San Donato  |-
| [[Altare di Fondatrici delle Suore di Carita]] || [[Church of San Martino]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of San Fortunato  |-
| [[Altare di Fondatrici delle Suore di Carita]] || [[Church of San Martino]] || No Saint Depicted || Body of San Fortunato   
| [[Second Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Giovanni in Bragora]] || [[Church of La Bragora]] || Giovanni Elemosinario || Body of San Giovanni Elemosinario  |-
|-
| [[Second Altar on the Right of Chiesa di S. Giovanni in Bragora]] || [[Church of La Bragora]] || Giovanni Elemosinario || Body of San Giovanni Elemosinario   
|-
| [[High Altar of Basilica di S. Marco]] || [[Basilica of San Marco (Church)]] || Marco || Body of San Marco  |-
| [[High Altar of Basilica di S. Marco]] || [[Basilica of San Marco (Church)]] || Marco || Body of San Marco  |-
| [[Widmann Family Altar of Chiesa di S. Canzian]] || [[Church of San Canciano]] || Massimo || Body of San Massimo  |-
| [[Widmann Family Altar of Chiesa di S. Canzian]] || [[Church of San Canciano]] || Massimo || Body of San Massimo  |-

Revision as of 02:40, 18 December 2025

For general information see Altar

Altars

Altars of the Churches of Venice
Total Number of Altars 518
Total Number Devoted to Saints 331
Altars with Relics 62
Altars Privately Patronized 55
Most Popular Saint Maria
Most Popular Artist Palma il Giovane

Venice's churches are home to many altars across the city, with most churches containing many. Even a relatively small church such as the Church of San Zulian in San Marco has seven altars. Many altars house great works of art, mainly paintings and and some sculptures. Many altars also contain relics, or objects that hold religious significance because they are connected to a saint or Christ. All information in this article refers to the altars of publicly accessible churches.

Dedication

A side altar in Church of San Martino di Burano dedicated in honor of S. Antonio di Padova

Altars are frequently dedicated in honor of specific canonized saints. These altars with specific saint or martyr devotion serve to honor god through providing a space for the practice of sacrificial offerings and prayer. Altars dedicated to saints often feature artwork, relics, or other symbolic instruments of devotion to honor the saint which the altar is erected for.

Venice has 331 altars which are dedicated to a saint, with 133 different saints among these. The most common saint which altars are dedicated to in Venice is the Virgin Mary (Santa Maria) with 87 altars, followed by St. Anthony of Padua (San Antonio di Padova) with 29, and St. Joesph (San Giuseppe) honored 14 times.

Chart showing the number of times a saint had an altar dedicated to them, for saints with over 4 altars

Patronage

Altars are sometimes sponsored by guilds, scuole, or by wealthy families. 102 altars can be verified as being patronized, with 71 from families and 31 from scuole. The families which sponsored multiple altars are: Morosini with five; Grimani with four; Giustiani and Corner with three; and Contarini, Foscari, Martini, Pesaro, and Molin with two. It is believed that the actual number of altars with patrons is much higher, but little of this information is available or accessible. [1]

Relics

A side altar in Church of San Zaccaria containing the bodies of S. Zaccaria and S. Anthanasius

Altars frequently contain the relics, either on display or stored inside of the altar. There are 62 altars that contain relics, with some containing multiple for a total of 71 relics in just the altars. These relics include the full or partial bodies of 46 saints, the bones of 6 saints, and other assorted body parts or objects. Some stand out relics include: the blood of Christ, the body of St. Mark (San Marco), the hand of St. James the Apostle (San Giacomo Apostolo), the holy nail, the tooth of St. Pantaleon (San Pantalon), and the foot of St. Catherine of Siena (San Caterina di Siena).

Body of Saint Mark

According to legend, in 828, two Venetian merchants (Buono da Malamocco and Rustico da Torcello) abducted the Body of Saint Mark from the Egyptian city of Alexandria in order to protect the body from being destroyed by Muslim forces. Upon returning to the city, the two merchants presented the body to the Doge, and the body was kept in the Doge's Palace until the Basilica of San Marco (Church) was constructed. [2]

Body of San Nicolò

The Bones of San Nicolò are located in the High Altar of the Church of San Nicolò in Lido. The bones constitute only half of the alleged body of the saint, as the rest are kept in the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, Bari, Italy. [3] San Nicolò is the Saint often cited as the inspiration for the modern cultural figure Santa Claus.

Tooth of San Pantalon

The Tooth of San Pantalon is Located in Church of San Pantalon, along with his leg bones and many other bone fragments. [4]

Artwork

Altars serve as spaces for prayer, offerings, and centerpieces for the celebrations of mass. In Venice, many altars are ornately decorated by famous pieces of art, often painted by renowned painters and artisans. Types of altar artwork include engravings, carvings, sculptures, and paintings. The most popular altar artist in Venice is Palma il Giovane (Jacopoo Negretti) with 40 altars accredited to him. He is followed by Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) with 27, and Veronese (Paolo Caliari) with 16. However, many other famous painters, such as Titian, Donatello, and Bellini have also painted altar artworks all across Venice.

List of All Altars

References