The church of San Felice is a religious building in the city of Venice, located in the Cannaregio district. It overlooks the homonymous foundation and gives its name to the neighboring field, straddling the Strada Nova and the Rio it overlooks.
Of ancient origins (10th century) it was commissioned by the Gallina
patrician family, although the first document that mentions its
existence dates back to 1177.
It was reconsecrated on 15 July
1267 by the bishop of Caorle Marino because it was profoundly modified.
It was completely rebuilt from 1531 inspired by the style of
Codussi, due to its critical static conditions and because Venice saw a
great renewal at the time,
The latest version is from 1531 and has a central scheme plan, with
two contiguous facades. The main facade is tripartite by pilasters with
Corinthian-style capitals.
The interior has a Greek cross layout,
with four pillars at the intersection which support the arches of the
large central dome. Victim of the Napoleonic looting, it has altars from
the 19th century.
Among the works kept there is the S. Demetrio
armed and a devotee of the noble Venetian Ghisi family, the work of the
first Tintoretto (about 1547) and a Crucified Body of Christ attributed
to Andrea Brustolon.
Inside the church there is a plaque
commemorating the baptism of Carlo Rezzonico, the future Pope Clement
XIII, which took place on 29 March 1693.
In the vicinity of the
church lived the hero of the battle of Famagusta (Cyprus), Marcantonio
Bragadin, flayed alive by the Turks in 1571.
Still a parish
today, the church is included in the vicariate of Cannaregio-Estuario
(patriarchate of Venice).