Church of St Mary of Miracles

The Church of St Mary of Miracles, or Santa Maria dei Miracoli, is a small Renaissance church in Venice, built between 1481 and 1489 to house an image of the Virgin Mary associated with miracles. Pietro and Tullio Lombardo designed its white, patterned marble exterior and interior on a human scale, without the grand proportions of Gothic churches. Inside, look for the raised altar and Madonna painting, the marble floor patterns and the saints painted across the vaulted ceiling. Allow time to take in the carved details on both sides of the entrance.

Why the church was built

The church was built between 1481 and 1489 to house an image of the Virgin Mary by Nicolò di Pietro. The painting had been kept in an outdoor shrine, where people came in growing numbers after attributing miracles to it. Public fundraising supported the church’s construction.

The building was designed by Pietro and Tullio Lombardo. Its compact scale and balanced design marked a move away from the grand proportions of Gothic churches and introduced Renaissance church architecture to Venice.

Marble inside and out

The exterior is known for its white marble and patterned panels, with sculpted details around the entrance. Marble continues inside, where the floor patterns and altars reward a closer look. The material links the exterior and interior into a single, carefully composed design.

At the raised altar, look for the Madonna painting that gave the church its purpose. Saints are painted across the vaulted ceiling. Together with the marble surfaces, these details make the interior worth exploring slowly.