Torcello

Torcello is a island located at the north of the Lagune of Venice.

History

Torcello was the first refuge of the inhabitants of the area in front of the invasions of the Huns and the Lombards, with the fall of the Roman Empire.

Torcello experienced its major development between 7th and the 10th century, thanks to its flourishing Commerce, initially supplied with the Saline S and then by traffics increasingly wider. Little by little the island secures a certain administrative autonomy, conquers a political independence increasing with respect to Byzance and prosperous inside the confederation of islands which will give rise to the Venetian State. At the 10th century Torcello counts 10.000 inhabitants, not less than 10 churches and several convents. Important commercial counter Torcello is the most powerful island and richest of the lagoon.

It becomes also the seat of one évêché which will remain until the 14th century.

The importance of Torcello decrease however as Venice develops. With the XVII° century the channels are transformed into marshes and the malaria is propagated; the inhabitants then leave the island to go to settle in Murano or Venice.

Today Torcello is not inhabited almost any more, it does not have any more but 60 people there. Some of its channels still remain, today, the main thing connecting the lagoon to the cathedral.

Monuments

The last monuments present on the island are thus the basilica Santa Maria Assunta, the church Santa Fosca and the house of the council, and some coffees and restaurants, the inhabitants having dismounted their house and having carried the stones in their escape.

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta . The most remarkable building of the island of Torcello is the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Notre-Dame of the Assumption), founded in 639.

The frontage, very sober, is preceded by a narthex whose gallery joined and surrounds the church close to S. Fosca. The interior, with three naves, rests on Greek marble columns with capitals.

The interior, with three naves, rests on Greek marble columns with capitals. Sumptuous mosaic S, realized between 12th and the 14th century, covers the walls with them). The mosaïstes vénéto-Byzantines of 12th and 13th centuries, take as a starting point Eastern prototypes, but with a Romance spirit, and tell the apotheosis of Christ and the universal Judgment. This mosaic is divided into six registers and the following narrative episodes follow one another it: descent of Christ to the limbs, the holy archangel Michel who weigh the hearts while the Devil awaits its prey, the Resurrection of Dead and the Hell with the separation of damnés in charge of sorrows varied, according to their sins. The pavement of mosaics was carried out at the 11th century, the low-reliefs date from 11th and paintings of the 15th century. The iconostase represents various carved animals (lions, peacocks).

The furnace bridge of the cathedral shelters a Roman Sarcophage containing the relics of Saint Héliodore.

Hemingway, speaking about the cathedral Notre-Dame (Santa Maria Assunta), claimed that the Venetian ones had never done anything of better.

Bell-tower . Separated from the cathedral, the Campanile was started at the 11th century and was used to control navigation in the lagoon; while climbing at the top, one can admire the island.

Santa Fosca . This church, in Greek cross, was set up between the XI° century and the XII° century. In the beginning, it was probably about a martyrium, sanctuary sheltering the remainders of the martyrs. It present like a encircled octagone of a gantry, whose heightened arcs rest on columns with capital vénéto-Byzantines. By its double line of blind arcades and its plank with reason in teeth of saw, the apse recalls that of San Donato. This sanctuary is, by its extreme simplicity, the summary of the Byzantine design of space like unit and structural coherence. The balance of form is emphasized by a pure and clear light.

Throne of Attila . In front of the cathedral, vis-a-vis the museum, is a marble seat which, according to the legend, would have been used as seat in Attila when this one had crossed Italy.

Bridge of the Devil . This stone bridge, damaged, spans the principal channel of Torcello.

Internal bonds

Random links: