{"id":28658,"date":"2022-07-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=28658"},"modified":"2022-07-27T21:49:33","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T01:49:33","slug":"the-frari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=28658","title":{"rendered":"The Frari"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a92022 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ever wonder how many churches are in Venice and the islands, I have the answer for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 137.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, I go out in search of churches while visiting European cities, sometimes I just stumble upon them, as was the case while my husband and I were spending the weekend in Venice. With that many churches in such a relatively small expanse, its not hard to find one! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had just arrived and were having lunch in the Campo dei Frari when I noticed the cross on the adjacent building. After a few pictures on the bridge, I edged toward the building and discovered the door open. Okay, my poor husband probably wanted to see the Bridge of Sighs and the Grand Canal, but surely we had a couple of minutes to see what was inside this church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After paying our admittance, we quickly skimmed over the brochure and map handed to us and made our way throughout the interior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we learned was that this was no ordinary neighborhood church. The Gothic styled Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (or The Frari) is the largest church in the city and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. This church’s beginnings go back to 1231 when land was donated with the intent of establishing a Franciscan monastery, however, grander ambitions prevailed. A three nave church was begun in 1250, however, it took eighty-eight years for its completion. Almost immediately, another church was begun…the current church, which still stands today. Taking over a century to build, the architectural footprint was reversed and a campanile was added; the second tallest in the city. The chapel of San Pietro was built from 1432-1434, the fa\u00e7ade completed in 1440 and the main altar consecrated in 1469. Finally, the church was consecrated on May 27, 1492 with the name of Santa Maria Gloriosa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we found the exterior to be rather plain, the interior was filled with many grand wall monuments dedicated to distinguished Venetians buried in the church, including a number of Doges and the painter, Titian. The three naves were separated by twelve massive columns and spanned with wooden beams. It was slow work trying to take it all in and making our way throughout the church to see all that it had to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After inspecting each of the monuments, which were placed where side chapels would ordinarily be located, we examined each of the important works of art that the church is known for; the masterpiece, Assumption of the Virgin<\/em> on the high altar and altarpieces by Titian, the Madonna and Child with Saints <\/em>(also known as the Frari Triptych<\/em>) by Giovanni Bellini in its original frame and the altarpiece Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro,<\/em> by Tiziano, Madonna with the Franciscan Saints<\/em> by Bernardino Licinio, Donatello Sculpture<\/em> in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, Madonna with Franciscan Saints<\/em> by Bernardina Licinio, Madonna and Child with Saints and Doge<\/em>, by Paolo Venezia, Madonna Con Bambino E Santi<\/em> by Jacopo from Faenza and the 13th century Crucifix on the left of the high altar. My favorite, however, was the Choir of the Monks (Coro dei Frati) in its original condition with 124 wooden stalls inlaid with views of Venice, created by Marco Cozzi, which sports the only rood screen (which separates the nave from the choir) still in place in Venice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Assumption of the Virgin on the High Altar<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Madonna and Child with Saints (also known as the Frari Triptych)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
Madonna with Franciscan Saints by Bernardino Licinio<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"\"
Donatello Sculpture<\/em> in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Madonna with Child, Saints and Doge<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Madonna Con Bambino E Santi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
13th century Crucifix<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"\"
Choir of the Monks (Coro dei Frati) <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Choir of the Monks (Coro dei Frati) <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
St. Mark and Saints in the Corners Chapel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"\"
Mausoleum Dedicated to Titian<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Altar of Saint Peter (top left)<\/em>, Monument Dedicated to the Doge Giovanni Pesaro (middle bottom)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Monument Dedicated to Jacopo Marcello<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Sacristy<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Chapel of St. Mark<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also made our way outside on the right of the church and discovered the cloister. As much as I love spending time in ancient cloisters, I was disappointed as this one seemed to be quite neglected. While there were a few elaborately carved marble statues in the courtyard and on the balconies surrounding it, the beauty of these was overshadowed by the large amount of weeds growing through cracks in the flagstone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Cloister<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While the monument to Antonio Canova (1827) would be something to take in, at this point in time, it was walled off for renovations. The pyramidal structure is dedicated to the neo-classical sculptor, built by his students and intended to house the heart of the sculptor Tiziano. The heart, however, was never interred here, brought to Passagno, his birth place. As most people are confused with the shape of the monument, it is clear if those understand that Canova was a Freemason and that the pyramid is the symbol of the Great Architect of the Universe.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Monument to Antonio Canova<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Finally, we headed toward the exit. In most churches, one would expect to see a pipe organ in the loft above, however, the loft was absent and a beautiful sculptural work decorated the wall around the main doorway. Definitely a way to continue to engage visitors upon their exit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stepping out into the sunshine, it was clear we were in Venice with a canal and bridge spread out before us. While it was time to head to some of the city’s more famous sights, I was glad that we had made the time to visit this ancient church!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n