Church of St. Mary of Nazareth

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DI NAZARETH (CHURCH OF THE SCALZI)

Chiesa di Santa Maria di Nazareth, also known as the Church of the Scalzi, is located in the Cannaregio district of Venice, right ליד Venezia Santa Lucia railway station.

It was built between the 17th and 18th centuries by the Discalced Carmelites (from whom it takes its nickname) and was designed by Baldassarre Longhena, one of the most important architects in Venice. The church was consecrated in 1705 and is a fine example of Venetian Baroque architecture.

The exterior is highly theatrical: the façade is entirely made of marble and richly decorated with statues and ornaments, designed to impress passersby—especially given its position near the Grand Canal.

Inside, the church is extremely lavish, featuring colored marbles, elaborate decorations, and a very luxurious atmosphere.

An important detail is that several notable figures are buried here, including Ludovico Manin, the last Doge of Venice.

The church once housed a large ceiling fresco by Giambattista Tiepolo, but it was destroyed in 1915 during World War I by a bomb.

Today, it remains an active church as well as an important historical monument, often visited by travelers arriving in Venice just after getting off the train.