If you want to escape the bustle of the city, I recommend taking a walk to the Jewish part. The Ghetto is a very quiet part of Venice. Before visiting the Jewish quarter, or after visiting it, go to Madonna dell’Orto, a very beautiful Gothic church.

Entrance church

In his book In Venice: A Literary Companion, Ian Littlewood points out what the standard tourists who visit Venice miss is that the least visited areas are among the most pleasant.

This church is also called the English church in Venice because the church was mainly restored with British money after a major flood in 1966. The church dates from the 14th century.

Tintoretto

In the 15th century, the name of the church was changed because a statue of the Virgin Mary was found in a nearby vegetable garden.

De facade is zeer mooi om te zien, maar de meeste bezoekers gaan voor de binnenkant. In de kerk zijn namelijk veel kunstwerken van Tintoretto te zien.The facade is very nice to see, but most visitors go for the inside. The most special work is the painting in the choir. Paintings can be seen on the left, right and in the middle. On the left wall is the adoration of the golden calf and on the right wall the Last Judgment. Some of Tintoretto’s best works of art are on display in the church. It doesn’t feel like a museum, you are really in a church. Tintoretto is also buried in the church.

Painting Tintoretto

There are also 4 funerary chapels built on the left side of the church. These chapels belong to 4 of the most important patrician families of Venice.

The choir of Madonna Dell'orto

If you are in Venice this is a gem to visit. Away from the crowds, in the “real” parts of the city. The Venetians live and work here. So few tourists come here, which is a pity on the one hand because they miss a lot, but on the other hand wonderful because you can discover the real Venice here. It is only a 15-20 minute walk from San Marco square and yet hardly anyone comes here.

Church Madonna Dell'Orto
Church Madonna dell'Orto
prayer room