Church San Nicolò, Dominican church in Treviso, Italy.
Church San Nicolò is a large Romanesque building divided into three naves by cylindrical columns that rise to support a vaulted ceiling. The columns and walls are decorated with painted frescoes that cover much of the interior.
Construction began in the 13th century with support from a Dominican friar named Niccolò Boccalino who convinced followers to donate. Boccalino later rose to prominence in Rome and became pope.
The frescoes on the walls show Dominican friars in their daily routines, reading and writing at their desks. These scenes offer a window into how religious communities lived and worked during the medieval period.
The church is open to visitors who can walk through and view the frescoes and columns up close. Take time to look for the 1778 organ with decorative painted doors on its front panels.
One of the frescoes shows eyeglasses being worn by a friar, marking one of the first times this object appears in Italian art. This early depiction of reading aids is a rare glimpse into daily medieval life through painted details.
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