San Felice, Venice, Renaissance church in Venice, Italy.
San Felice is a Renaissance church in Venice featuring a symmetrical facade and rounded arches typical of the era. The building combines stone and brick construction, displaying the design principles characteristic of religious architecture from this period.
Founded in the 10th century by the Gallina patrician family, San Felice is first documented in 1177. It was reconsecrated on 15 July 1267 by Marino, bishop of Caorle, after deep modifications. Critical structural conditions and Venice's wider renewal led to a complete rebuild from 1531 inspired by the style of Mauro Codussi.
The church is still a parish church, part of the Cannaregio-Estuario vicariate of the Patriarchate of Venice. Inside, a plaque records the baptism of Carlo Rezzonico, later Pope Clement XIII, on 29 March 1693. Near the church lived Marcantonio Bragadin, defender of Famagosta, flayed alive by the Turks in 1571.
The church sits near multiple water transport stops, making it easy to reach by boat. Visitors should plan to arrive during daylight hours, as the doors close before evening each day.
The church has two contiguous façades: the main one on the campo and a second facing the Rio di San Felice. The main façade is divided into three parts by pilasters with Corinthian capitals, and the interior is a Greek cross with four pillars carrying the dome's arcades.
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