Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Santa Maria dei Miracoli is a masterpiece of Early Renaissance architecture by Pietro Lombardo (1481-89) built to enshrine a miraculous picture of the Virgin. Instead of decorating the exterior with sculpture Lombardo used cleverly matched colored marble arranged to form rosettes, circles, octagons and crosses on the facade. The interior is embellished in the same way, with the golden domed ceiling achieving a much greater effect above the gray and coral marble walls as a result. Steps lead from the nave to the chancel which is partitioned off by an exquisite Early Renaissance balustrade decorated with figures. This interior is one of the most beautiful in all Venice.