The hospital of Saints Peter and Paul was an institution based in Venice, in the Castello district (NA 452-54).
Founded in the 11th century, it was the oldest of the hospices opened
in the city for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. It was later used as
a hospital for the care of the sick.
In 1350 the complex was
enlarged by incorporating some houses left by Francesco Avanzo. In 1368
it obtained the protection of the doge. Other important transformations
took place between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the
restructuring of the church (1736) and of the entire hospital (1772).
It was suppressed in 1806 during the Napoleonic administration
(inpatients were transferred to the Incurable). It therefore became a
patronage for wandering children, later entrusted to the daughters of
Mary Help of Christians. After the restoration of the years 1996-1999
the complex, passed to the Municipality of Venice, is used as a cultural
center and student residence.
Of the original building, only a valuable Gothic portal facing the
Fondamenta San Gioachino is preserved: dating back to the 15th century,
there is a sculpted Madonna with Child between Saints Peter and Paul.
It is also known that the church had three altars, of which the
largest bore an altarpiece by Giuseppe Angeli (the Virgin and two
apostles). By the same author were Christ in the Garden and Christ
Carrying the Cross, still in the oratory, and Crucifix, San Gerolamo
Miani and two pilgrims, in the infirmary. All the works have been lost.