The Church of San Simeon Piccolo (Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo), also called Santi Simeone e Giuda (Church of Saints Simeon and Judas, Chiesa dei Santi Simeone e Giuda) is an impressive architectural and religious landmark of Venice.
This shrine is located near the Scalzi Bridge (Ponte degli Scalzi), spanning the waters of the famous Grand Canal (Canal Grande), as well as opposite the Venetian Santa Lucia railway station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia).
The location of the church on the banks of the Grand Canal makes it one of the most famous churches in Venice.
Today's church was built in 1718-1738 by the Italian architect Giovanni Antonio Scalfarotto in the style of the emerging eclecticism of neoclassical architecture, and on the site of an earlier church.
The church stands out with an impressive Corinthian entrance portico with columns and pediment, and a high copper-plated dome ending with a lantern in the form of a small temple.
Steps lead to the portico, and on the pediment there is a marble relief depicting the "Martyrdom of the Saints" by the Italian sculptor Francesco Penso, known as "il Cabianca".
The church is made in neoclassical style with an oval cup-shaped dome, specially designed to make the church seem larger than it really is.
The nave has a circular plan and is marked by a double Corinthian order: the lower one has pilasters that become columns in accordance with the side wings. In the upper part of the church, pilasters alternate with large rectangular windows, interspersed with niches with statues of evangelists, works by an 18th-century Venetian artist.
In the hall there are four identical Corinthian altars-ediculae. In the first to the right of the entrance there is a canvas depicting San Francesco di Paola, supported by an angel, and San Gaetano da Tiene by Antonio Marinetti; the second throne, also on the right side, is dedicated to the titular saints of the church, depicted on the altar image together with San Giovanni Battista (the work is attributed to Mattia Bortoloni or Francesco Polazzo, 18th century). On the left side, starting from the entrance to the church, there is an altar of Santa Dorothea with an altarpiece depicting her martyrdom, by Angelo Venturini, and an altar of the Holy Family with a canvas by Tomaso Bugoni (18th century). Between them is a marble sketch depicting a Pieta by Bartolomeo Scalfarotto.
In the center of the presbytery with a dome and two apses on the sides is the main altar (18th century) made of Istrian stone with panels of green marble. Between two statues of Saints Simeon and Judas made of Carrara marble is an elegant tabernacle with a throne surrounded by paintings with a golden background: Le Tre Marie al sepolcro and La Maddalena (18th century, Francesco Maggiotto). On the back wall there is a choir with an organ of the late eighteenth century (not working today), placed in an edicular box of unusual size. The Giorgio Carli organ (2006) is currently used for the musical service of sacred functions. Along the exedra of the main chapel there is a wooden choir, above which there are six niches with statues of the apostles.
In the sacristy there is an elegant altar of the edicula with a marble crucifix attributed to Giovanni Marchiori (18th century). In the neighboring antisacrestia, above the washbasin, there is a small and precious relief depicting the "Probatic Pool" by J. Marchiori (signature).
Under the church there is an extensive crypt consisting of an octagonal hall (with an altar in the center), from which four corridors branch off, along which twenty-one burial chambers are built.
Along the walls and vaults there is a cycle of extensive frescoes on the themes of death and religious Old Testament scenes. Given the serious humidity problems, the murals are largely damaged.
In the chapel, on the other hand, there are religious paintings laid out in the burial with church objects, the work of a cultural artist of the non-Venetian school.
Practical information
Masses and celebrations are held in the church.
Website of the Church of San Simeon Piccolo: venezia.fssp.it.
The address of the Church of San Simeon Piccolo: Santa Croce, 698, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy.
Coordinates of the Church of San Simeon Piccolo: 45°26'25.8"N 12°19'20.7"E (45.440492, 12.322419).
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