Madonna dell’Orto

Have you ever heard of a church named for a vegetable garden? Well, here it is, the Madonna dell’Orto, right before you. It was founded in the fourteenth century by the Order of the Humiliati. They were a wealthy group of monks, and they wanted to build a church dedicated to Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. The church was originally named “San Cristoforo.” But the name changed thanks to an unlikely story about a sculpture of the Madonna that was rejected by the priest of another church. That artist, Giovanni De Santi, took his rejection personally and placed his statue on his land, in his “orto.” The story goes that the sculpture began to glow, attracting many pilgrims. The Bishop asked De Santi to move it to a public place. De Santi agreed to do so in exchange for a “huge sum of money.” The friars of the church agreed to this and eventually, the sculpture was moved to the church in 1377. In 1414, the sanctuary was definitively consecrated to the Madonna dell’Orto, and the name stuck. Today, the Madonna dell’Orto is known as one of the most important art churches in Venice. Why? Because it’s home to ten works by Tintoretto. He was an artist who loved the energy and drama of Venice. He lived in the area and even buried here in a chapel to the right of the apse. His work, along with the works of other Venetian masters such as Cima da Conegliano and Palma il Giovane, add to the captivating beauty of the church. It’s a reminder that even in a place as luxurious as Venice, simple beginnings can lead to something magnificent.