Church of San Nicolò dei Mendicali in Venice
The Church fo San Nicolò dei Mendicoli is one of the oldest churches in Venice. There are two theories on the origin of its name: the first claims that the word Mendicoli is a distortion of Mendigola, the old name of the island on which the church was built. The second traces its origin to mendici, the Italian word for beggars, to emphasise the poor living conditions the people of this hamlet endured.
The church exterior is modest however its interior holds some unexpected surprises.
The ceiling shaped like an upturned ship and the nave are in fact entirely decorated and adorned with gilded wood statues, while the upper walls are frescoed with a series of paintings depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ by different artists of the Veronese school.
There is also a valuable nineteenth-century organ.
Chiesa di San Nicolò dei Mendicoli
Campo S. Nicolò dei Mendicoli, 1907, Dorsoduro
30123 Venice - Italy
Tel. +39 041 2750382
