San Nicolò dei Mendicoli
Encyclopedia
San Nicolò dei Mendicoli ("Saint Nicholas of the Beggars") is a church in the sestiere or neighborhood of Dorsoduro
in Venice
. The islet
where the original church was located, previously housed poor fishermen, hence the addition of mendicoli ("beggars") to the name of San Nicolò. From then on, the inhabitants were called Nicolotti. The present structure dates from about the 12th century, with frequent reconstructions. The present clocktower was added in 1764 to replace an older one.
The entrance lies on the right of the nave. The nave is bordered by peculiar Corinthian
-like columns. The hooked bills of the capitals derive from the coats of arms of patron families. In the chancel is a 15th century statue of Saint Nicholas
holding three golden spheres, symbolizing the money donated, in his legend, to save three girls from prostitution. The canvases on the nave walls were made by various painters, including Alvise Benfatto. Two end panels on the ceiling are by Leonardo Corona
and those in the middle by Francesco Montemezzano.
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice, northern Italy.Dorsoduro includes the highest land areas of the city and also Giudecca island and Isola Sacca Fisola...
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
where the original church was located, previously housed poor fishermen, hence the addition of mendicoli ("beggars") to the name of San Nicolò. From then on, the inhabitants were called Nicolotti. The present structure dates from about the 12th century, with frequent reconstructions. The present clocktower was added in 1764 to replace an older one.
The entrance lies on the right of the nave. The nave is bordered by peculiar Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
-like columns. The hooked bills of the capitals derive from the coats of arms of patron families. In the chancel is a 15th century statue of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
holding three golden spheres, symbolizing the money donated, in his legend, to save three girls from prostitution. The canvases on the nave walls were made by various painters, including Alvise Benfatto. Two end panels on the ceiling are by Leonardo Corona
Leonardo Corona
Leonardo Corona was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Venice. Born in Murano. For the church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo , he painted an Annunciation; while for San Stefano, he painted an Assumption. He is said to have been a pupil of the elder Titian, and completed some...
and those in the middle by Francesco Montemezzano.