A church between the Renaissance and Baroque: Santa Maria Formosa

Historical altar paintings inside the church Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa in Venice

Outside view of the building of the church Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa in venice

Highlights

With the Venice City Pass, you can experience the city’s most popular museums, attractions and tours – one ticket, everything included.
Your ticket for the Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa is already included in your Venice City Pass.
No advance reservation is required for this attraction – your City Pass is your admission ticket.

Impressive architecture: The church has a unique and well-preserved architecture, which impresses with magnificent façade details and decorations.
Works of art: The interior of the church houses an impressive collection of works of art, including paintings, sculptures and altars that showcase the religious art of the Venetian Renaissance.
Altarpiece: The altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child is particularly noteworthy. It is considered a masterpiece of religious painting.
Historical significance: The Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa has a long history and is an important religious and cultural centre in Venice.

Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa: a unique façade and an impressive collection of works of art

What awaits you on site

According to legend, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa was founded by the Bishop of Oderzo, who had a dream in which the Virgin Mary appeared. The beautiful Mary gave the church its name – Maria Formosa. The present-day form of the church corresponds to the style of the early Renaissance. Its façade has different designs, with the north façade, built in 1604, showing elements of the Baroque. Many decorative elements show the coats of arms of the Capello family, and three busts inside the church also refer to family members. Inside, you should not miss the polyptych ‘Saint Barbara with Pieta and Saints’ by Jacopo Palma il Vecchio, but many other works are also well worth seeing.

How to get there

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Address:
Castello, 5263 30100 Venice, Italy

Good to know

Opening hours
Monday to Saturday: 10.30 am – 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm – 5 pm
Last admission 4.20 pm.
The Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa is closed to visitors every Sunday, as well as on 1 January, Easter, 15 August and 25 December.
Opening times are subject to change (depending on the season). For up-to-date information, please check the official website of the attraction - Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa.

Your ticket for the Chiesa di Santa Maria Formosa is already included in your Venice City Pass.