Santa Maria del Giglio o Zobenigo

Step into the Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo, and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with Santa Maria del Giglio o Zobenigo, a Baroque masterpiece in Venice’s heart. This church, though named after the lily flower, is more commonly known as Santa Maria Zobenigo, a tribute to the Jubanico family who founded it in the 9th century. While its origins stretch back into the distant past, the church you see today owes its stunning facade to the skillful hand of architect Giuseppe Sardi, who rebuilt it in 1681 for Admiral Antonio Barbaro. This grand facade, a testament to Venetian Baroque architecture, boasts a remarkable array of marble relief maps depicting the many places where Antonio Barbaro served. You can spot Candia, Padua, Zadar, Split, Corfu, and Rome, all carved in intricate detail. In the center of the facade, a statue of Antonio Barbaro, sculpted by Josse de Corte, stands as the chief benefactor, flanked by allegorical figures representing Honor, Virtue, Fame, and Wisdom. But the stories within the church walls aren’t limited to Antonio Barbaro. The nave ceiling is a canvas of vibrant art by Antonio Zanchi, and the nave itself is lined with painted depictions of the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross. Here, you can find works by Francesco Zugno, Gianbattista Crosato, Gaspare Diziani, and Jacopo Marieschi. But perhaps the true jewel within Santa Maria del Giglio is Rubens’ only painting in Venice, a “Madonna and Child with Young St John,” located in the Molin chapel. The chapel also holds a painting of St Vincent Ferrer by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta and Giuseppe Angeli. Behind the high altar, you will find a masterpiece by Tintoretto, the legendary Venetian painter, who captured the presence of the Evangelists with his brush strokes. This church is filled with a rich tapestry of art, history, and devotion, a testament to the enduring legacy of Venice.