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Torcello Review
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Torcello
- Address: Torcello, Venice
- Phone: 041/730119
- Category: Religious Sites, Islands, Historic Districts/Sites
- Location: Torcello
Fodor's Review:
In their flight from barbarians 1,500 years ago, the first Venetians landed here, prospering even after many left to found the city of Venice. As malaria took its toll and the island's wool manufacturing was priced out of the market, Torcello became a ghost town. In the 16th century there were 10 churches and 20,000 inhabitants; today you'll be lucky to see one of the island's 16 permanent residents.
Santa Maria Assunta was built in the 11th century, and Torcello's wealth at the time is evident in the church's high-quality Byzantine mosaics. The massive Last Judgment shows sinners writhing in pain, while opposite, above the altar, the Madonna looks calmly down from her field of gold. Ask to see the inscription dated 639 and a sample of mosaic pavement from the original church. The adjacent Santa Fosca church, added when the body of the saint arrived in 1011, is still used for religious services. It's worth making the climb up the adjacent Campanile for an incomparable view of the lagoon wetlands.
- Cost: Santa Maria Assunta EUR 3, Campanile EUR 3
- Open: Basilica Mar.-Oct., daily 10:30-6; Nov.-Feb., daily 10-5. Campanile Mar.-Oct., daily 10:30-5:30; Nov.-Feb., daily 10-4:30. Last entry 1/2 hr before closing
- Metro: Torcello
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