Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

All you want to know about Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Santa Maria Assunta (left) and Santa Fosca (right)

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a basilica church on the island of Torcello, Venice, northern Italy. It is a notable example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture, one of the most ancient religious edifices in the Veneto.

According to an ancient inscription, it was founded by the exarch Isaac of Ravenna in 639.

The campanile.

The Cathedral was largely restored in 864 and 1004.

The façade is preceded by a narthex to which was once annexed the 7th century baptistry (only traces of it remain). on its side is the martyrion, dedicated to Santa Fosca. The bell tower dates from the 11th century. Also annexed was in origin the Bishop's Palace. The façade has 12 semi-columns connected by arches at the tops. The narthex (11th century) was enlarged in the 13th century. In the middle is the marble portal (1000).

The most striking exterior features are the decoration of the façade and the frontal portico, enlarged in the 14th century. The interior, with a nave and two aisles, has a marble pavement, the throne of the bishops of Altino and the sepulchre of St. Heliodorus, first bishop of Altino. The counter-façade has a mosaic of the Universal Judgement. Noteworthy is also a painting depicting a Madonna with Child in the middle apse (15th century).

The most important artistical element of the cathedral: a series of mosaics of Byzantine-Ravennate school, including a Last Judgement in the counter-façade. Also, the skull of Saint Cecilia is kept as a relic here.