Church of San Lorenzo

The Church of San Lorenzo is a church in Venice, located in the Castello district (sestiere), overlooking Campo San Lorenzo. Together with the Chapel of San Sebastiano, the church was part of the Benedictine monastery of the same name.

SHORT HISTORY

The church was built starting with 809, at the behest of Doge Agnello Partecipazio. In 1007, the Chapel of San Sebastiano was built next to San Lorenzo by the future Doge Ottone Orseolo.

The church and the chapel were badly damaged in the disastrous fire of 1105.

In 1592, the rebuilding of the Church of San Lorenzo began, on a project by Simone Sorella. The church was completed in 1602 and rededicated in 1617. The facade remained unfinished.

The Chapel of San Sebastiano was also rebuilt between 1629 and 1632, with other interventions in 1748.

On April 25, 1810, after the suppression of all religious orders, the nuns left the monastery, all the assets passed into the hands of the state, and the religious complex was closed.

In 1821, the church passed under municipal administration, and in 1853 it was restored. In 1875, San Lorenzo was transformed into a hospital, in 1946 it became an infirmary for the chronically ill, and starting with 1951, the building housed the Municipal Geriatric Center.

Starting with the 1980s, the church was used occasionally for the activities of the Venice Biennale. In 2017, an agreement was signed between the Municipality and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation for the restoration of the church in exchange for an exclusive concession of the space for nine years.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

The interior of the church is divided almost in the center by three large arches. The base of the side arches is closed by a low wall with doors and windows, and above by an elaborate railing. Inside the central arch, stands the main altar.

The main altar, designed around 1620 by Girolamo Campagna, is the only surviving altar of the church. The altar has the shape of a triumphal arch, with a colorful tabernacle in the center. On the sides of the altar, in two niches, are the statues of Saint Lawrence and Saint Sebastian.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Church of San Lorenzo is located about 2.5 kilometers away from the Venezia Santa Lucia railway station. The closest waterbus stop is San Zaccaria, located about 600 meters away, on the vaporetto Lines 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 14, 15, 19 and 20.