Chiesa di Santa Maria in Vado, Renaissance church in Ferrara, Italy

The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Vado is a Renaissance church on Via Borgovado, rebuilt from 1495 to designs by Biagio Rossetti for Ercole I d'Este and consecrated in 1518. Its west front is in cotto, with a marble portal attributed to Andrea Ferreri, and a second entrance faces Via Scandiana. Inside, three naves lead to a transept and apse; the right transept holds the small tempietto built by Alessandro Balbi from 1594 around the vault touched, by tradition, by the 1171 host's blood.

The church was originally founded in the 10th century near a river crossing and was completely rebuilt in 1495 under architect Biagio Rossetti and Duke Ercole I d'Este. This rebuilding gave it the Renaissance form we see today.

The church is recognized locally as a place of devotion to Mary, with its interior containing paintings by Renaissance artists depicting religious scenes. These artworks shape how the space feels and is experienced by visitors today.

The main entrance faces west on Via Borgovado 3, at the corner with Via Scandiana, which has a second, nearly equal entrance. Inside, a small staircase in the right transept chapel leads up to the level of the vault that tradition links to the 1171 miracle. The Lapidarium, flanking that vault, holds 529 small plaques for Ferrara's war dead.

In 1171 during Easter, something unusual was recorded during the consecration of the host that became central to how people understood this place. The event left a mark on the vault above the altar that visitors can still see today.