Mazzorbo: The Church of Santa Caterina

Walking Tours of Venice

Bas-relief, Santa Caterina

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The location of Santa Caterina, at one end of an island which few people visit, almost guarantees that you will have this charming church to yourself.
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Santa Caterina is the only one of Mazzorbo's ten churches to have survived. Above the portal is a fine relief of the Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine (1368).

The portal leads to a charming brick-paved atrium. The medieval church, which was once part of a Benedictine nunnery, preserves a barco (gallery) and a ship's-keel wooden vault.

Its 14th century bell tower houses the oldest bell (1318) in the lagoon. The bell is signed and dated: MAGISTER LUCAS DE VENETIIS ME FECIT ANNO MCCCXVIII. It is also inscribed with the words: XUS VINCIT XUS REGNAT XUS IMPERAT (Christ conquers. Christ rules. Christ reigns supreme.)

There is a bas-relief of Saint Catherine, complete with broken wheel and martyr's palm, under the bell chamber.

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Santa Caterina

Santa Caterina