Have you ever wondered about the whispers held within ancient Venetian walls? Before you stands the Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti a testament to Venice’s rich history and compassion. This church wasn’t always a place of quiet prayer. Originally it served a much different purpose.
The Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti wasn’t always the beautiful Baroque church we see today. It has a long and fascinating history. In 1224 a leper hospital dedicated to St Lazarus existed near the church of San Trovaso. In 1262 this hospital relocated to an island in the Venetian lagoon. Later around 1500 funds remaining after the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo’s construction funded a new hospital for lepers and beggars. This hospital was one of Venice’s four major hospitals. The term Mendicanti refers to the mendicant friars who commissioned the church’s construction in 1601. It also reflected the hospital’s role as a shelter for beggars.
The Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti holds a special place in Venetian musical history. From 1689 to 1693 Antonio Vivaldi’s father taught violin at its music school. The hospital took in abandoned girls. These girls received musical training. They became skilled singers and musicians. You can still see the metal grille behind which these orphan girls the figlie del coro sang. Their voices echoing through the very space we now inhabit.
Vincenzo Scamozzi began designing the Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti in 1601. The nave was finished by 1631 but the facade designed by Antonio Sardi was only completed in 1673 by his son Giuseppe. The church’s interior is equally impressive. The right wall boasts a Crucifixion and Virgin and St John by Veronese. Another piece is Saint Ursula and the 11 thousand Virgins by Tintoretto. The ornate funeral monument to the condottiero Tommaso Alvise Mocenigo stands as a reminder of Venice’s past. He died defending Candia Crete from the Ottomans in 1654. Baldassare Longhena also designed other funeral monuments within the church. The interior decoration completed between 1634 and 1637 was designed by Francesco Contin. The composer Simon Mayr wrote several oratorios for this very church including Sisara Tobiae matrimonium and David in spelunca Engaddi.
Today the Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti serves as the chapel of the Civic Hospital of Venice. As we stand here let us pause to reflect upon its multifaceted past. Its transformation from a hospital for lepers and beggars to a place of musical brilliance and artistic treasure. The Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti stands as a powerful symbol of Venice’s enduring spirit. Its resilience and its compassion.