Friday October 8, 2021
Torcello predates Venice, founded as a refuge from the invasions of the "barbarians" - including Attila the Hun, with records back to 452 AD. What remains now is the central piazza from a city estimated to have a population of 20,000. The church of Santa Fosca, one of four remaining buildings of the old city piazza, has documentation dating back to the at least the early 800's.
The current building, with its present appearance in the form of a Greek cross, dates to the 1100s. It was rebuilt to house the relics of the Saints Fosca and her nurse Maura, who lived in Libya in the 3rd Century. Their remains were brought to Torcello by a sailer at the time the church was built. Venice was busy establishing itself as an important power in the region, and the acquisition of as many religious relics as possible was an important part of the provenance.
While the history is interesting, the building itself is a beautiful example of simple religious expression. The interior presents as a Greek cross with arms of equal length, with three naves with apses and a domed wooden ceiling. Today, its quiet dignity allows for thoughtful reflection during the visit, and a chance to light a candle in memory of our mothers.
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| Exterior view of one of the apses with Romanesque arches |
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| The columns and capitals of the side arcade don't match - maybe scavenged from other resources when it was built? |
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