Street Altar
This page contains information about a typical Venetian street altar.
For a list of street altars, see Street altars.
Venice is the home of over 100 street altars, which are throughout the streets of Venice and the Lagoon (PreserVenice). Also known as the Madonnelle, street altars date as far back as ancient Rome, though their meaning and significance changed across centuries. Today, they are religious shrines that are publicly displayed in urban areas, along streets, and in significant outdoor spaces. They predominantly depict the Virgin Mary; however, some display art of other saints and religious figures.
History
Street altars were initially erected during ancient Rome as a means of worshipping pagan gods. People at that time considered street corners to be spiritually dangerous places where the living and the underworld intersect, so individuals built street altars to protect themselves and others from evil spirits.
When the city converted to Christianity, Madonnelle, shrines devoted to the Virgin Mary, replaced the original art. These commonly pictured the Virgin Mary looking down at civilians, and meant to guard against evil and remind individuals of their civic duty. Popular belief was that a citizen was less likely to commit sin or crime when they were being watched by a Madonnella. The Christian street altars also occasionally depict art of other religious figures, such as Christ or other patron saints.
The street altars promoted a more informal and accessible relationship to patron saints for local residents. Worship at the street altars was a public matter that knitted the community around a shared belief system, with close involvement of those living in the neighborhood to set up flowers and candles on the shelves. Because the lanterns at these shrines kept burning, they served the practical role of lighting otherwise dark streets, making them both sacred and useful to daily life.
Notable Components
Many of the street altars are found in or around neighborhoods. As these are places of prayer and worship, there are different components to them. The majority of them include flowers, real or fake; candles or a light source; a picture, relief or sculpture of a significant, religious figure; and a gate or door that opens for access into the altar.
See Also
For a list of street altars, see Street altars.
References
1. Gabbrielli, M. (2018, July 6). Best Venice Guides—Votive shrines in Venice. Best Venice Guides.https://bestveniceguides.it/en/2018/07/06/votive-shrines-in-venice/