Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Cannaregio, Venice
Scuola Vecchia & Abbazia della Misericordia
Old School and Abbey of Mercy
Images: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of Venice’s Great Schools
Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Often overlooked by visitors to Venice, this campo (square) holds both the Abbazia della Misericordia (Church of the Abbey of Mercy) along with the Scuola Vecchia della Misericordia (Old School).
The church was founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 13th. The facade was renovated in 1659 and has statues of Clemente Moli and a bas-relief depicting the Madonna and Child. The church is now deconsecrated.
Adjacent to the church is the Old School of Santa Maria della Misericordia which was built in 1310 and enlarged several times.
On the facade there are two angels above the portal and the remains of a relief by Bartolomeo Bon (now preserved in the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum in London).
The school was active from 1308-1806, the best part of 500 years!
Visiting the Misericordia
Useful Information
Location/Waterbus
Vaporetto – the main services are: Line 4.1, Line 4.2, Line 5.1, Line 5.2
Buy vaporetto waterbus tickets | View timetables, routes & maps
Waterbus stop: F.te Nove – 10 mins walk / Madonna dell’Orto – 9 mins walk
Opening Times
Opening Times: Mon 9.00am – 2pm
Tues – Sun: 9.00am-7:15pm
Tip
The nearby Fondamenta della Misericordia is a place where Venetians gather during the evening. Take a stroll, drink some wine and see real Venetian life.
Tickets
For tickets view the Misericordia’s website page
Hospice, Hotel & More
Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This school (scuola) was one of the six Great Schools of Venice. It had a cloister, a garden. a hospice and reached its peak in 1411 when a hotel was added.
In the Old School’s large rooms Tintoretto and his assistants painted (in several parts later joined together on site) the Paradise (il Paradiso) which adorns the back wall of the Hall of the Great Council of the Doge’s Palace and is one of the largest paintings on canvas in the world.
In the 16th century, the school was the seat of the association of Venetian silk weavers.
The Scuola Vecchia is often used to host exhibitions.
B&B in Venice
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CANNAREGIO ATTRACTIONS MAP
With Place Markers
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CANNAREGIO AND AREA TOURS & ACTIVITIES
From Get Your Guide
Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio Food and Wine Tour
2-Hour Legends and Ghosts of Cannaregio Tour
Secret Venice: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour
Stand-Up Paddleboarding Tour on the Venice Canals
Traditional Cafés and Pastry Shops Walking Tour
Private Cannaregio and Jewish Quarter Tour
Venice Art and Architecture Private Walking Tour
Spider-Man, The Tourist & all Movies locations in Venice
Jewish Ghetto Walking Tour and Synagogue Tour Option
Private Evening Tour w/ Drinks & Bites in Cannaregio
Casanova, Vivaldi, and Marco Polo Private Tour
Venice professional photo shoot
All ratings November 2023. E&EO. Images are indicative of the activity but may not be of the tour.
VENICE ATTRACTIONS
Things to See & Do in Venice
San Marco Attractions
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St Mark’s Square
St Mark’s Basilica
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Doge’s Palace
Piazzetta Di San Marco
Historic Cafes
Museo Correr
Marciana Library
National Archaeological Museum
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Bridge Of Sighs
Church Of Santo Stefano
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Palazzo Grassi
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Music Museum
La Fenice
Harry’s Bar
Fortuny Palace
Fondaco Tedeschi
Santa Croce Attractions
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Natural History Museum
Papadopoli Gardens
Church Of San Nicola Da Tolentino
San Stae Church
Palazzo Mocenigo
San Giacomo Dell’Orio
Ca’ Pesaro
Cannaregio Attractions
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Ca D’oro
Campo Dei Mori
Casino Di Venezia
Chiesa Degli Scalzi
Color Library
Madonna Dell’Orto
Marco Polo House
Oratorio Dei Crociferi
Wagner Museum
Venice Ghetto
Santi Apostoli
Scuola Grande Della Misericordia
Santa Maria Dei Miracoli
San Polo Attractions
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Rialto Bridge
Rialto Markets
Campo San Polo
Church Of San Polo
Scuola Grande Di San Rocco
San Giacomo Di Rialto
Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari
Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista
Castello Attractions
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Aqua Alta Bookshop
Scuola Grande Di San Marco
Basilica Dei Santi Giovanni E Paolo
Church Of San Zaccaria
Marinaressa Gardens
Naval Museum
Venice Arsenale
Palazzo Grimani
Riva Degli Schiavoni
Riva Dei Sette Martiri
San Francesco Della Vigna
San Giovanni In Bragora
Santa Maria Della Pieta
Biennale & Giardini
Querini Stampalia
Dorsoduro Attractions
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Ca’ Rezzonico
Fondamenta Delle Zattere
Gallerie Dell Accademia
Palazzo Cini
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Ponte Dei Pugni
Punta Della Dogana
San Barnaba
San Pantalon
San Sebastiano
Santa Maria Della Salute
Scuola Grande Dei Carmini
Giudecca
Venice Lagoon Islands
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Murano
Burano
La Vignole
Lido Di Venezia
Mazzorbo
San Francesco Del Deserto
San Lazzaro degli Armeni
San Servolo
Sant’Erasmo
San Michele
Lazzaretto Nuovo
Torcello
Chioggia