Abbazia della Misericordia, Former religious complex in Cannaregio district, Venice, Italy.
Abbazia della Misericordia is a former church in Venice's Cannaregio district, built in Baroque style with ornamental details across its facade. The building sits along the Canale della Misericordia and displays classical Baroque decorative features including sculpted embellishments.
The original church was founded in the 10th century as Santa Maria di Val Verde and received its current Baroque form through major reconstruction between 1651 and 1659. Gasparo Moro financed this transformation, and his bust marks the entrance.
This church belonged to one of Venice's seven major confraternities, organizations where members combined religious practice with helping people in need around the city. These groups shaped how neighborhoods functioned spiritually and socially for generations.
Access to the former church is limited today since it no longer serves as an active place of worship, with the last service held in 1967. Visitors can best appreciate the building from outside, examining the facade and structure from the surrounding canals where regular tours are not typically available.
During the 2017 Venice Biennale, the former church was temporarily converted into a mosque as part of an art installation exploring new uses for historic spaces. This unexpected transformation shows how sacred buildings can take on fresh meanings through contemporary artistic practice.
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