The church of San Marziale or San Marcillano (vulgo San Marzilian) is a religious building in the city of Venice, located in the Cannaregio district.
According to tradition, San Marziale was founded in the 9th century
and rebuilt in 1133 on the initiative of the Bocchi family. On the same
occasion, it would have been elevated to a parish, while remaining
affiliated to the cathedral of San Pietro di Castello.
Since its
origins it was also a collegiate church, for which a chapter composed of
two priests, a deacon and a subdeacon was established there. In later
times, the administration was reduced to the parish priest alone,
sometimes with the assistance of a sacristan.
The ancient
building (basilica-like plan with three naves, with a tripartite
façade), reduced to a bad state, was rebuilt in 1693 and consecrated on
28 September 1721 by the patriarch Pietro Barbarigo.
Emerging
unscathed from the period of Napoleonic suppressions, the parish
expanded in 1819, also including the territory of San Marcuola and Santa
Sofia. In 1876 the patriarch Giuseppe Luigi Trevisanato sanctioned the
transfer of the parish to the Madonna dell'Orto and San Marziale was
relegated to the rectorial church which it still is today.
The exteriors are very sober: the walls are plastered and devoid of
ornaments and even the small bell tower has very simple lines.
A
single nave welcomes visitors, on the ceiling pictorial panels inserted
in gilded frames by Sebastiano Ricci, around 1700.
The main altar
rests on the back wall of the presbytery and is dominated by an enormous
marble group attributed to Tommaso Rues: Christ on the world with angels
and saints. Paintings of historical importance are San Marziale in Glory
between Saints Peter and Paul, by Tintoretto, 1548-1549.
In the
sacristy Angelo Raffaele and Tobia by Tiziano Vecellio, around 1530, by
Sebastiano Ricci from 1700 on the ceiling, in a central position, the
Eternal Father with angels in glory.