Church of St. Maria Assunta (Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta)

On the island of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon sits one of the most important churches in Venice - the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Torcello itself is the site of one of the earliest settlements on the Venetian islands, so it has enormous historical importance. The cathedral itself is one of the oldest structures in Venice.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta dates from the 7th century, although most of what you see today was built in the 9th, 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries. The 11th and 12th century renovations in the Byzantine style include some stunning mosaic pieces on the interior walls in what’s called the Byzantine-Ravennate school. If you’ve visited St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and liked the colorful mosaics there, then you’ll love seeing the mosaics in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta - in the same style, but older.

Practical Info:

There’s not much to do or see on Torcello, so follow the path from the vaporetto dock all the way to the end, where you’ll find the cathedral. It’s open March-October from 10:30am-6pm, and November-February from 10am-5pm. Admission is €5 (€8 if you also want to visit the accompanying museum). You can also climb into the bell tower for views over the lagoon.