San Pietro di Castello (church)
Encyclopedia
The Basilica di San Pietro di Castello (Basilica of St Peter of Castello), commonly called San Pietro di Castello, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica
of the Patriarch of Venice
located in the Castello
sestiere
of the Italian city of Venice
. The present building dates from the 16th century, but a church has stood on the site since at least the 7th century. From 1451 to 1807, it was the city's cathedral church, serving as both the spiritual and administrative centre of religious Venice. During its history the church has undergone a number of alterations and additions by some of Venice's most prominent architects. Andrea Palladio
received his first commission in the city of Venice from the Patriarch
Vincenzo Diedo to re-build the facade and interior of St Pietro, but Diedo's death delayed the project.
After St Mark's Basilica
became Venice’s official cathedral (it had previously been the private church of the Doge
), San Pietro fell into a state of disrepair. It was firebombed
during the First World War and only through the efforts of conservation organisations has it been restored to its former state. Its ongoing conservation is now managed through its membership of the Chorus Association
of Venetian churches. The building and its surroundings are a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
The church is located on San Pietro di Castello (from which it derives its name), a small island off the eastern end of the main city of Venice.
, the Bishop of Oderzo
, who came to the Venetian lagoon during this period. At the time there was no city but simply a collection of small communities scattered throughout the marshy islands. In a vision St. Peter appeared to Magnus and instructed him to found a church where he saw oxen and sheep grazing side by side. The location was found and St. Magnus built the church, dedicating it to St. Peter.
The first Bishop of Castello was invested in 1091. In 1120 a fire destroyed the church requiring a new structure to be built. This was grander than the previous building (as seen on a map drawn by Jacopo de' Barbari
in 1500) and had an adjoining baptistery
dedicated to St. John the Baptist (since destroyed). In 1451, and despite being some distance from the political and economic centre of the city, San Pietro became the seat of the Patriarch
of Venice. Following this the building began to see significant investment. During the 1480s Mauro Codussi
rebuilt the church's campanile
using white Istrian stone, the first example of this seen in Venice. Between 1508 and 1524 the Patriarch Antonio Contarini restored the floors and ceiling. At the same time minor chapels were re-built and the church was decorated with new furnishings.
In 1558 Andrea Palladio
, in his first commission in the city of Venice, prepared an improved design for the facade and interior of San Pietro. However, the Patriarch who had commissioned Palladio, Vincenzo Diedo, died before the plans could be implemented. Later, between 1594 and 1596 the architect Francisco Smeraldi implemented a modified and less ambitious version of Palladio's original design, the changes possibly attributable to a lack of funds.
In 1807 St Mark's Basilica
became Venice’s official cathedral church instead of San Pietro. After 1807 the church saw increased neglect and suffered from firebomb damage during First World War. It wasn't until conservation organisations intervened during the 1970s that the church was restored to its former condition. The area is now a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
and the church itself is a member of the Chorus Association
of Venetian Churches.
s with Composite capitals supporting the main pediment
and entablature
. This is then flanked by a double broken pediment.
The church has a large dome which indicates the church's eccleasiastical importance, sharing an affinity with San Giorgio Maggiore
and Il Redentore
both churches designed by Palladio. The dome is supported on a drum which has rectangular windows cut into it to let light into the building.
The church's campanile is one of the most precarious in Venice.
with Latin aisles. The transept
crosses the church, separating the nave from the presbytery
. The crossing point is capped by a large dome. The Vendramin Chapel, located off the left aisle, was designed by the baroque architect Baldassarre Longhena
, as was the high altar which he constructed during the middle of the 17th century. The organ was constructed by the Dalmatian craftsman Pietro Nachini who was working in Venice during the 18th century.
and the altarpiece in the Vendramin Chapel by Luca Giordano
. The church also contains the Throne of St Peter, a 13th century seat cut from a funeral stone and inscribed with words from the Koran.
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
of the Patriarch of Venice
Patriarch of Venice
The Patriarch of Venice is the ordinary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. The bishop is one of the few Patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church...
located in the Castello
Castello, Venice
Castello is the largest of the six sestieri of Venice, Italy. The district grew up from the thirteenth century around a naval dockyard on what was originally the Isole Gemini, although there had been small settlements of the islands of San Pietro di Castello , also called Isola d'Olivolo, since at...
sestiere
Sestiere
A sestiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from sesto, or sixth; and is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example are the sestieri of Venice, but Ascoli Piceno, Genoa, Milan and Rapallo, for example, were also divided into sestieri...
of the Italian city of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The present building dates from the 16th century, but a church has stood on the site since at least the 7th century. From 1451 to 1807, it was the city's cathedral church, serving as both the spiritual and administrative centre of religious Venice. During its history the church has undergone a number of alterations and additions by some of Venice's most prominent architects. Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio was an architect active in the Republic of Venice. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily by Vitruvius, is widely considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture...
received his first commission in the city of Venice from the Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
Vincenzo Diedo to re-build the facade and interior of St Pietro, but Diedo's death delayed the project.
After St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture...
became Venice’s official cathedral (it had previously been the private church of the Doge
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
), San Pietro fell into a state of disrepair. It was firebombed
Firebombing
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs....
during the First World War and only through the efforts of conservation organisations has it been restored to its former state. Its ongoing conservation is now managed through its membership of the Chorus Association
Chorus Association
The Chorus Association of Venetian Churches , often shortened to Chorus Association, is a conservation organisation working within the city of Venice in Italy...
of Venetian churches. The building and its surroundings are a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
The church is located on San Pietro di Castello (from which it derives its name), a small island off the eastern end of the main city of Venice.
History
The earliest structure on the site dates from the 7th century. It was one of the eight churches founded by St. MagnusMagnus of Oderzo
Saint Magnus of Oderzo was a 7th century Italian saint who is notable for founding some of the earliest churches in Venice. He was Bishop of Oderzo and travelled to Venice where he founded the churches of Santi Apostoli, San Pietro di Castello, Santa Maria Formosa, Santa Guistina, San Giovanni in...
, the Bishop of Oderzo
Oderzo
Oderzo is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy.It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice...
, who came to the Venetian lagoon during this period. At the time there was no city but simply a collection of small communities scattered throughout the marshy islands. In a vision St. Peter appeared to Magnus and instructed him to found a church where he saw oxen and sheep grazing side by side. The location was found and St. Magnus built the church, dedicating it to St. Peter.
The first Bishop of Castello was invested in 1091. In 1120 a fire destroyed the church requiring a new structure to be built. This was grander than the previous building (as seen on a map drawn by Jacopo de' Barbari
Jacopo de' Barbari
Jacopo de' Barbari, sometimes known or referred to as de'Barbari, de Barberi, de Barbari, Barbaro, Barberino, Barbarigo or Barberigo , was an Italian painter and printmaker with a highly individual style. He moved from Venice to Germany in 1500, thus becoming the first Italian Renaissance artist...
in 1500) and had an adjoining baptistery
Baptistery
In Christian architecture the baptistry or baptistery is the separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font. The baptistry may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be provided with an altar as a chapel...
dedicated to St. John the Baptist (since destroyed). In 1451, and despite being some distance from the political and economic centre of the city, San Pietro became the seat of the Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of Venice. Following this the building began to see significant investment. During the 1480s Mauro Codussi
Mauro Codussi
Mauro Codussi was an Italian architect of the early-Renaissance, active mostly in Venice. The name can also be spelt Coducci. He was one of the first to bring the classical syle of the early renaissance to Venice to replace the prevalent Gothic style.Born near Bergamo about 1440, he is first...
rebuilt the church's campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
using white Istrian stone, the first example of this seen in Venice. Between 1508 and 1524 the Patriarch Antonio Contarini restored the floors and ceiling. At the same time minor chapels were re-built and the church was decorated with new furnishings.
In 1558 Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio was an architect active in the Republic of Venice. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily by Vitruvius, is widely considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture...
, in his first commission in the city of Venice, prepared an improved design for the facade and interior of San Pietro. However, the Patriarch who had commissioned Palladio, Vincenzo Diedo, died before the plans could be implemented. Later, between 1594 and 1596 the architect Francisco Smeraldi implemented a modified and less ambitious version of Palladio's original design, the changes possibly attributable to a lack of funds.
In 1807 St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture...
became Venice’s official cathedral church instead of San Pietro. After 1807 the church saw increased neglect and suffered from firebomb damage during First World War. It wasn't until conservation organisations intervened during the 1970s that the church was restored to its former condition. The area is now a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
and the church itself is a member of the Chorus Association
Chorus Association
The Chorus Association of Venetian Churches , often shortened to Chorus Association, is a conservation organisation working within the city of Venice in Italy...
of Venetian Churches.
Exterior
The church exhibits a muted facade compared to other Palladian designs in Venice. It features a prominent set of four engaged columnEngaged column
In architecture, an engaged column is a column embedded in a wall and partly projecting from the surface of the wall, sometimes defined as semi or three-quarter detached...
s with Composite capitals supporting the main pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
and entablature
Entablature
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and are commonly divided into the architrave , the frieze ,...
. This is then flanked by a double broken pediment.
The church has a large dome which indicates the church's eccleasiastical importance, sharing an affinity with San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the islands of Venice, northern Italy, lying east of the Giudecca and south of the main island group. The isle is surrounded by Canale della Grazia, Canale della Giudecca, Saint Mark Basin, Canale di San Marco and the southern lagoon...
and Il Redentore
Il Redentore
The Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore , commonly known as ', is a 16th century Roman Catholic church located in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the Italian city of Venice. It was designed by the architect Andrea Palladio and built as a votive church to thank God for the deliverance of the city from a major...
both churches designed by Palladio. The dome is supported on a drum which has rectangular windows cut into it to let light into the building.
The church's campanile is one of the most precarious in Venice.
Interior
The building has a large central naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with Latin aisles. The transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
crosses the church, separating the nave from the presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
. The crossing point is capped by a large dome. The Vendramin Chapel, located off the left aisle, was designed by the baroque architect Baldassarre Longhena
Baldassarre Longhena
thumb|250px|Tower of the church [[Santa Maria del Soccorso]], [[Rovigo]].Baldassarre Longhena was an Italian architect, who worked mainly in Venice, where he was one of the greatest exponents of Baroque architecture of the period....
, as was the high altar which he constructed during the middle of the 17th century. The organ was constructed by the Dalmatian craftsman Pietro Nachini who was working in Venice during the 18th century.
Artwork
The church contains only a few notable works of art including SS John the Evangelist, Peter and Paul by Paolo VeronesePaolo Veronese
Paolo Veronese was an Italian painter of the Renaissance in Venice, famous for paintings such as The Wedding at Cana and The Feast in the House of Levi...
and the altarpiece in the Vendramin Chapel by Luca Giordano
Luca Giordano
Luca Giordano was an Italian late Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain....
. The church also contains the Throne of St Peter, a 13th century seat cut from a funeral stone and inscribed with words from the Koran.