Oratorio dei Crociferi
Small oratory in Cannaregio with the cycle of paintings by Palma il Giovane from 1583–1592, open by reservation.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The oratory stands on the left side of the Campo dei Gesuiti in Cannaregio and is part of the Renier Zen hospice, a medieval building with a pitched roof. The hospice was founded in the twelfth century by the Crociferi (Crosier) fathers as a hospital and a place of hospitality for pilgrims and crusaders.
The small oratory houses the painted cycle by Jacopo Palma il Giovane, executed between 1583 and 1592, which covers the walls and ceiling with episodes from the history of the Order of the Crociferi. It is a rare case in sixteenth-century Venetian art: a single decorative ensemble entrusted to one artist, alongside that of Tintoretto in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The site also preserves a wooden ceiling.
After the flood of 4 November 1966 the building remained closed for almost twenty years and reopened to the public in October 1984. The restoration was promoted by UNESCO and financed, together with the IRE (today I.P.A.V.), by international committees for the safeguarding of Venice: the Venice in Peril Fund, Pro Venezia, Stichting Nederlands Comité Venetie and Friends of Venice.
Today the oratory is part of the “Gioielli nascosti di Venezia” circuit of the Fondazione Venezia Servizi alla Persona, and can only be visited by reservation.
Highlights
- Painted cycle by Palma il Giovane (1583–1592) on walls and ceiling
- History of the Order of the Crociferi told in the painted scenes
- Original wooden ceiling
- Renier Zen medieval hospice on the Campo dei Gesuiti
Permanent exhibition
- Ciclo pittorico di Palma il Giovane – Paintings by Jacopo Palma il Giovane from 1583–1592, with scenes from the history of the Order of the Crociferi, on the walls and ceiling of the oratory.
- Founded
- 1984
- Operated by
- Fondazione Venezia Servizi alla Persona (I.P.A.V.)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free admission for children under 12. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Opening by reservation without guided tour | €40Fixed fee, plus the ticket per person. |
| Opening by reservation with guided tour | €60Fixed fee, plus the ticket per person. |
No reduced ticket is provided. Free admission also for licensed tourist guides and for staff of I.P.A.V. and the Fondazione Venezia Servizi alla Persona with ID card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Book by email at booking@fondazioneveneziaservizi.it or with the online form on the “Gioielli nascosti di Venezia” website (the form only checks availability), at least 3 working days in advance. In the past the oratory has also hosted contemporary art installations. |
