Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano, Catholic church in Giudecca, Venice, Italy
Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano is a Catholic church on Giudecca island in Venice with a gabled front and a single nave that opens into three apses. The interior displays architectural elements from different periods of renovation and structural change.
A Benedictine nun named Marina Celsi founded the attached monastery in the late 15th century, attracting noble women who brought significant dowries to support its growth. The religious community became an important presence on the island for centuries.
The church once held paintings by major Venetian artists whose works have since been dispersed, leaving behind a legacy of artistic ambition. The sacred space carried the hopes of noble families who chose this island community.
The building now operates as a business incubator with the church interior subdivided into multiple levels for office and administrative use. Access may depend on current activities, so it is worth checking conditions before planning a visit.
Girolamo Pellegrini painted the dome with the Assumption of the Virgin in the 17th century, and recent restoration work uncovered hidden frescoes depicting Church Doctors beneath later layers. These rediscovered paintings reveal layers of artistic decoration accumulated over centuries.
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