Is one of the greatest “minor” basilicas in Venice, which of course, is saying quite a lot. Building began in 1250. This is the entry way.
This photo, and the next, show the woodwork in the choir stalls, with the organ pipes above.
Think for a minute what it would sound like to hear the organ and the choir sing in these stalls, as you sat in the church, in say 1400.
In the cathedral are two works by the 16th century master Titian, as well as Donatello’s first painting. They were magnificent, but what struck me most was this piece from Paola Veneziano, depicting the Madonna with saints. I knew little of Veneziano and had to google him. All that is known about him is the artwork he created between 1333-1358. His work represents, “an amazing balance between his Byzantine training and the romantic influences of northern Europe.” (Wiki)
It was the influence of Byzantine mosaic in this piece that caught my attention.
The interior is an amazing example of how architecture, art, and reverence, can create an environment that has soothed human souls for hundreds of years.
The painted, wooden art in the basilica is remarkable. This horse and rider made of painted wood, was the first of its type ever made in Venice, and depicts a Roman Prince.
This wooden clock was carved in 1630 by the artist Stefano Panatta.
There are many beautiful pieces of very old furniture in the basilica like this pew and wood painted fresco, of unknown origin.
Cheers to you from the sacred serenity of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari~
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So much beauty. It’s awesome.
Yes, it is. I wish I didn’t have to travel so far to be in churches like this.
It would be lovely to live near!
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I so enjoyed this vicarious visit to the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Cindy; your words and images, the sounds of the pipe organ and choir, the art and reverence.
Ah, thank you. It is just what we need now isn’t it!
Beautiful place,beautiful photos !
Grazie mille!
Love the photos and especially like the narrative that adds to the understanding and appreciation of the art.
Such lovely sentiments. Most appreciated, thank you!
The details are amazing, one could take hours and not see everything. Beautiful share, thanks, Cindy!
Ah, yes! Just getting “being,” lost in the spiritual ambience.
I can’t get enough of the art of Old Europe. I can spend hours gazing at a single piece. Great post!
I know just how you feel. It can be hard to pry me out of churches like this!
These are gorgeous
Grazie mille~
Glorious pictures, Cindy. You make me feel I was there – so much detail in the images, and your lighting of interiors is always revealing and impressive.
You are very kind and most appreciated.
I agree about the lighting. You really captured some details that I might not even notice if I were walking around that church. Excellent photography (says a person who knows nothing about the art of the camera, but enjoys seeing the results)
What a very kind comment and I almost missed it which would have been my loss. Thank you! Most appreciated~
Exquisite photographs, Cindy.
Honored & humbled. Thank you!
This one I have been to!
Yay! So glad you have experienced the wonder of it~
It’s nearly unfathomable that we are looking at a “minor” church. So much opulence and attention to detail. Nothing modern compares to these medieval edifices which nobody could afford to design or construct nowadays.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say, including the “minor” designation!
Hi Cindy – Visited this church in 1975. Stunningly beautiful for a “minor” basilica! Best from Florida.
So wonderful you remember it by name after all these years. Says a lot doesn’t !
The intricate carving of the wooden clock is eye-catching. Wonderful post, Cindy. <3
That clock fascinated me. I have no idea how someone could have carved it!
Amazing wonders of the ancient world. 🙂
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I visited this church back in the 90s! 🙂 My camera was stolen and I have no photos so I thouroughly enjoyed your great shots, Cindy. Coming from Norway where the churches are very clean-bare I marvel at the wealth and the display further south. Unbelievable.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Dina & co
Having you camera stolen with all the photos therein would be so traumatic. Terrible. I am, at least happy you were able to visit this amazing place.
Me too! It was winter, my first visit to Venice and it was pure magic. 🙂
Venice is truly awesome in winter! You have so many wonderful places to yourself. Magical and my favorite time to visit~
Fantastic! So old and yet so beautiful.
Often, old and beautiful go together, even with people!
Lol!! You’re exactly right! Blessings.
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Fantastic stuff.
Thank you very much!
This is an awesome cathedral. Europe has so many amazing places like this and each one is unique. Every time I visit one I think how fortunate i am to have been able to see it. The pictures are fabulous. Thanks!
I think and feel exactly as you do. Thank you!
An awesome place full of beautiful artworks. The clock piece has so many details and seems to be telling some sort of story, intriguing… You beautifully captured pictures of the place.
You are a lovely friend. Have a wonderful weekend!
Please do the same.
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I too find the clock the most compelling. I’d love to know the story. Perhaps the cycle of life plus other. And a fairly 3D carving, not just surface.
It is remarkable isn’t it! I can’t imagine the skill needed to carve the pieces so close together.
What a beautiful place, so full of great artwork! I’ve been to Italy, but never Venice. I think I have to go…
The more off season you go, the better it will be. I do hope you go!
Ah…a wonderful moment of reflection…
I know you would have felt as I did here Rebecca~ 🛐
I am not sure if you know that, but this is one of the churches that has been given the honorary title “Balsilika minor” by the pope.
Interesting and thanks for letting me know. I knew the designation but not the story behind it.
Absolutely stunning, Cindy. Would I ever love to hear that organ.
Leslie
I wish we could beam over to listen!
Me too.
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Wow, what a spectacular church, so ornate and beautiful 🙂
Yes, it is so wonderful wandering into places like this!
A real treasure! 🙂
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I know when I go abroad I love visiting such places as this.. seeped in history and so lavishly decorated.. Many thanks for sharing Cindy.
So happy you enjoyed and cheers to you Sue~
🙂 enjoy your day xx
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“Santa Maria!” – borrow a movie quote. Magnificent architecture and history!
We certainly haven’t improved on our architecture and design since then have we!
Thank you, Cindy for the grand tour of the basilicas! Glorious, indeed! 🙂
So happy you joined me Amy~ <3
Wonderful pics, Cindy… they particularly resonated with me, as my partner is reading aloud to me Kenneth Clark’s timeless and amazing book ” Civilisation”, and this is the time frame we’ve reached… I now have a new understanding of your beautiful pics, thanks to this book…more please !!!!
Oh how wonderful to be able to match the visuals with with textual, sounds synchronistic!
So beautiful! Love architecture!
You and I are in perfect accord! <3
Yes!
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What an extraordinary place, Cindy.
Your photos of the details are excellent…..not many photographers would be able to capture the detail as well as this.
Ahhhh, humbled & honored, thank you!
Love the colours. 🙂
Ancient painted wooden art adds so much to these glorious old churches~
Adore this post Cindy!! It seems like you could spend a morning in this place–so much exquisite detail everywhere you look. I was surprised at the painted wooden art– seems more German. I guess they are just across the mountains from Venice. –And loved the thought of sitting in this church and hearing the organ and choir. One trip to Long we were able to hear the Messiah sung in Westminster Abbey– a beautiful memory. Great post again –thanks Cindy! xox
Sounds like a wonderful memory indeed! I love happening into a church during choir practice. It happens a lot. Often you are alone in the church listening to what seems almost like heaven speaking~
I hope I age that well…
Laughing…….so do I, but I’m not holding my breath!
Monumental interior photos displaying captivating details,dear Cindy!!
Ah, so kind & so appreciated! <3
My pleasure <3
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
More exquisite pictures from Cindy Knoke’s travels.
You are a lovely friend <3
Wonderful architecture, love the wooden stalls and the colours. Glorious it is!
I do too and I would so love to live in regular visiting distance of a church like this!
For all the beautiful details and ‘minor’ grandeur, I am drawn to the simplicity of the wooden horse. 🙂
Yes, I love the old painted, wooden art pieces too. They make churches warm and homey and they seem to bring the art and interiors to life. Too much starkness, or marble and stone don’t have the same welcoming warmth~
Loved seeing this amazing church. Thanks for the beautiful post and photography.
Thank you more for the kind appreciation!
Fantastische Aufnahmen!…
Danke Ernst und habe eine wundervolle Woche mein Freund!
wow! so much history, and such beautiful architecture!
Yes! It is what makes Europe so amazing!
I have never been, but that is definitely what makes me want to go!
I know you will have a wonderful time. You make your time wonderful and I am impressed with you.
Gloriosa indeed!
Alison
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I find it amazing that so much of Europe was formed before the U.S. ever came into being! To be surrounded by so many glorious old things and so much creativity must be an amazing feeling. Thanks for sharing it with us, Cindy!
Yes, it never ceased to amaze me. We are not accustomed to this in the US.
Absolutely gorgeous Cindy! It’s amazing what people have created in the name of religion over time. Art sits at the forefront of history. It is beyond words and tales and decrees. It remains, for the most part, a pure vision of times and places. The building and everything about it is art.
Hiding out on Art Gowns, working on the new post! Love to you!
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say. Art is an interesting language and a time traveling vehicle. Because of art we can feel what people felt in this church 600 years ago and that is pretty remarkable!
I cannot wait for the unveiling of your new masterpiece! <3
Indeed! Mozaiek caught in paint, Older forms in new material. The horse and rider is wonderful. It reminds me of the Bamberg Rider, in the German city of, well, Bamberg. 🙂 Venice is one of the prettiest cities I know. One night when sailing the water taxi on Canal Grande I saw this girl sitting in a warmly lit window, above the streetlights reflecting water. She was reading a book, captured by the words, woven in a web of letters, phrases, perhaps meanings as deep as the velvet sky above. She and her book, in that window, while a gondolier sang his last song. At that moment I fell in love. With the girl maybe, but certainly with Venice.
Oh what a big smile this brought out in me! Such wonderful poetic imagery! I love Bamberg immensely and I know the horse and rider you speak of. Magical looking elf man. He looked like his horse could spring wings and fly him away at will. Wouldn’t that be lovely! I love your reading girl in silhouette forever representing Venice in your mind. Magical~
I imagine it can be overwhelming at times when looking up at such grand magnificence. Your photos are spectacular, Cindy. Hugs 💖
Ahhhh, you are a sensitive soul and can imagine yourself in other’s minds which is quite a gift. Thank you Tina~ <3
Welcome, Cindy ♥♥
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Your photography is beautiful!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Cindy Knoke’s photography is stunning.
You are so very kind Charles and so very appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you for transporting me into a beautiful serenity this morning. What a sight to wake up to. 🙂
I am so glad! We all need daily, regular, transport to serenity~ <3
Indeed we do Cindy, 🙂
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Such complex designs. You say it started in 1250. I wonder when it was completed? It could well have taken 50 years or so?
Good observation and important. It was completed around 1338, some churches are still in progress after may hundreds of years! This one was completed rather rapidly so it stuck with me.
What a gorgeous and serene place! I’m especially interested in the sculptures made from wood. You have a marvelous eye for detail, Cindy!
Yes, I should do a whole series on these old, painted, wooden, religious statues. They fascinate me because they seem so life like, especially the wooden painted females saints, angels and Madonnas. They stop me in my tracks because it seems like they have this life essence that stone statues can’t touch. I keep taking photos of them, but don’t post most of them. Now I think I will. Thank you! You have given me a good idea.
Did you ever seen the Black Madonna in the crypt of Chartres. It gives you chills.
I am sure it would! I have not seen her, only photos, which are gorgeous.