Santa Tecla, Este, Religious monument in Este, Italy
Santa Tecla is a cathedral in Este with an elliptical nave and a tall dome, designed by Venetian architect Antonio Gaspari in classical style. The structure features a prominent bell tower, while the facade remains unfinished in brick.
A church on this site dates back to the 4th century and was built over the ruins of a pagan temple. The present structure was completely rebuilt beginning in 1690 as a new baroque interpretation of the location.
The church is named for Saint Thecla, a virgin and martyr from Anatolia. In the apse, Tiepolo's 1759 painting shows her interceding with the Eternal Father to free Este from the 1630 plague. A glass urn at the second altar on the right holds the body of Blessed Beatrice I d'Este (1191–1226).
The church faces Piazza Santa Tecla in the centre of Este, a short walk from the town's main streets. The unfinished brick facade and the 18th-century bell tower make it easy to recognise from the square. Look for the Tiepolo altarpiece in the concave apse and the Corradini altar in the Chapel of the Holiest Sacrament.
Within the Chapel of the Holiest Sacrament sits a marble sculpture group by Antonio Corradini featuring a veiled female figure representing Faith. This hidden sculpture displays the refined work of a renowned Venetian carver.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,536 contributors worldwide.
