Abbazia della Misericordia, Former church in Cannaregio, Venice, Italy.
The Abbazia della Misericordia is a former church in Venice's Cannaregio district, sitting along the Canale della Misericordia with a Baroque facade decorated with stone reliefs and carved details. The building is no longer used for worship and is not regularly open to the public.
The church dates to the 10th century, when it was founded under the name Santa Maria di Val Verde, and took on its current form through a major rebuilding between 1651 and 1659. Gasparo Moro funded that transformation, and his bust can still be seen above the entrance.
The Abbazia della Misericordia was once tied to the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, one of the most powerful brotherhoods in Venice, whose main hall stands just next door. Walking along the canal, you can still read this connection in the layout of the buildings facing each other across the water.
The building is best seen from the outside, along the Canale della Misericordia or the nearby streets, as there is no regular access to the interior. Walking through Cannaregio naturally brings you past the facade, so it works well as a stop along a broader stroll through the neighborhood.
During the 2017 Venice Biennale, the interior was temporarily turned into a functioning mosque as part of an art installation addressing religious practice in a city with no official mosque. The project sparked a wide public debate in Venice that went far beyond the art world.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
