Scuola Grande dei Carmini

Opening hours: daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ticket:
Phone: ++39 - 041-5289420
Address: 2617, Dorsoduro - Venezia

Even if the official foundation of this "Scuola Grande" was in the 1594, Carmini's Pizzocchere's confraternity was active since the thirteenth century. Only at the beginning of sixteenth century, after many apprecisations both from Church and Serenissima Republic, San Giorgio degli Schiavoni incresased its power.
Right nave offered by Carmelitani friars was absolutely inadequate to go on working so many buildings were bought in the area close to Campo Santa Margherita: it was announced a competition won by Camtello. But construction went on very slowly becouse of the pestilences. In spite of this, building was unveiled in 1638 even if the facade was unfinished.
At the beginning of 1670 the building was finished by architect Longhena. Howewer there're many doubts about his partecipation. Surely ha had to work on an existent structure that was besides different on its two sides. Recents restorations demonstrated that the building was finished when there still was a tavern joining the building that obviously not allowed to drawn a unitary project.
This School keeps on the ceiling of the first floor room a masterpice by Tiepolo: La Vergine in Gloria. The painting la Madonna del Carmelo consegna lo scapolare al Beato Simone Stock raised the popularity of this confraternity until the final appreciation by Serenissima Government that gave the appellative "Grande" to it in the 1767.
The Napoleonic edict closed it in the 1806 when it still was rich and popular: many of the most important works were robbed but large ones fortunately remained here to be appreciated by public.