Monday, September 12, 2016

San Michele in Isola

Church of San Michele in Isola, Island of San Michele, Cannaregio, Venetian Lagoon, Venice

Church of San Michele in Isola by Mauro Codussi, 1478
Isola di San Michele (Island of San Michele)
Cannaregio, Venetian Lagoon
Venice, September 2013

“The original church was founded in the 10th Century and dedicated to to the Archangel Michael. A monastery was built too and housed monks of the Camaldolite order from 1212 to 1818. Amongst the monks who lived here were famed cartographer Fra Mauro, and Fra Mario Capellari, who became Pope Gregory XVI. (The crater Fra Mauro and the Fra Mauro formation of the Moon were named after the monk.) The church was enlarged and consecrated in 1221. Rebuilt in its current form 1469-78 by Mauro Codussi, this was his first building in Venice and Venice's first church in the Renaissance style. The design of the façade and its use of Istrian stone solely was very influential on Venetian church architecture.” (San Michele in Isola, The Churches of Venice)