Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, Minor basilica in Murano, Italy
Church of Santa Maria e San Donato is a basilica built from red-brown brick on the island of Murano, with a separate bell tower and a colonnade along its eastern facade facing the water. Inside, a large Byzantine floor mosaic made from precious stones covers much of the ground with geometric patterns and animal designs.
Built in the 7th century, the structure was rebuilt between 1125 and 1140 with its current Romanesque form shaped by local craftsmen. The relics of Saint Donatus arrived later as part of Venice's growing power in the lagoon.
The church honors two figures in its name: Mary and Saint Donatus, whose veneration has been central to this place for centuries. Visitors see Byzantine floor mosaics made with precious stones that form geometric patterns and animal figures with Christian meaning.
The church is reachable by vaporetto boat from Venice and sits on a separate island with other churches and craft workshops nearby. Wear sturdy shoes since pathways are uneven and seasonal flooding can affect walkways around the waterfront.
Four large bone fragments hang behind the altar, originating from extinct Pleistocene mammals and often overlooked by visitors. These fossils remind people of the lagoon's ancient past, long before Venice itself was founded.
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