Campo Santa Maria Formosa, square in Venice, Italy
Campo Santa Maria Formosa is a public square in Venice that opens around the church bearing its name. It is surrounded by residential buildings and shops, forming an open, airy space amid the narrow canals of the lagoon city.
The church around which the square developed was founded in the 7th century and later rebuilt several times. The square itself grew organically as a social center of the neighborhood as the city expanded across the islands of the lagoon.
The square takes its name from the church that overlooks it and serves as a natural gathering place for neighborhood residents. You will see locals sitting on benches, children playing, and the space filled with the everyday rhythm of the area.
The square is easily accessible on foot and offers benches for sitting as well as fountains with drinking water. Multiple entrances to surrounding alleyways make it a practical navigation point within Venice's maze-like streets.
The church's eastern facade is remarkably convex, giving it a distinctive appearance that stands out when viewed from the square. This unusual architectural feature resulted from structural changes that occurred over centuries of renovation and adaptation.
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