San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti

The church of San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti was built by Vincenzo Scamozzi between 1601 and 1631. Its façade was completed by Giuseppe Sardi in 1673.

​Twenty years earlier, Sardi had designed the tomb of Admiral Francesco Mocenigo, who was killed by the Turks during their epic twenty-two year siege of Heraklion, in Crete (once part of the Venetian empire). Bas-reliefs depict dramatic battles on land and sea. 

The church was attached to the Ospedale dei Mendicanti, one of the four main hospitals in Venice. In addition to looking after the destitute, the ospedale took in abandoned and unwanted children. As in the city's other three ospedali, the boys were taught a trade, while the girls were taught music to a very high level. 

Hidden behind the screens of grey latticework, the girls would give public recitals. The composer, Baldassare Galuppi (1706-85), who was born on the island of Burano, was the Director of Music at the Ospedale dei Mendicanti from 1740-51. ​
The church of San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti, Venice
San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti