Campo dei Gesuiti, Cannaregio 4904

Oratorio dei Crociferi

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Ospizio Renier Zen and Oratorio dei Crociferi

Placed on the left side of Campo dei Gesuiti, the Oratorio is an integral part of a medieval building having a simple hut structure – the Ospizio Renier Zen – founded in the XII century by the religious order of the Crociferi and assigned to a hospital and resting place for pilgrims and crusaders.

Gioielli Nascosti di Venezia soffitto in legno dell Oratorio dei Crociferi

Dettaglio quadro Oratorio dei Crociferi Gioielli Nascosti di Venezia

The antiquity of its origins, which places this hostel among the first ones founded in Venice, as evidence of a particular way to provide for the needs of the weakest social groups which was peculiar of the lagoon Republic, is not the only reason of interest given today to the Crociferi complex.

In fact it is tied to a significant episode of the late Venetian Renaissance: the cycle of paintings by Jacopo Palma il Giovane, executed between 1583 and 1592, covering completely the walls and the ceiling of the small oratory.

This is an unicum in the Venetian artistic culture panorama of the XVI century, both because it is the only decorative complex of the age linked to the name of one artist only – with the exception of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco decorated by Tintoretto -, and because it documents one of the happiest moments in the copious production by Jacopo Palma il Giovane, wherein some of the most important historical events of the religious order which founded it are represented.

The Oratorio has been reopened to the public in October 1984 after almost twenty years of forced closure related to the damage caused by the flood of 4th November 1966. It has been completely renovated thanks to the restoration promoted by UNESCO and financed, together with IRE (today I.P.A.V.), by a group of international committees for the safeguarding of Venice: The Venice in Peril Fund (England), the Pro Venezia (Sweden), the Stichting Nederlands Comité Venetie (Holland), the Friends of Venice (Dallas Texas).

Visit the Oratorio dei Crociferi

Don’t miss one of Venice’s most beautiful and spectacular monuments, a unique jewel off the classic tourist routes.

Visits to the Oratorio dei Crociferi are by reservation only. Let us know the date and the number of people you would like to come and we will get back to you as soon as possible with all the information you need.

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