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The church of San Francesco della Vigna is located in Campo San Francesco della Vigna, in the Castello district of Venice. A small convent with an adjoining church from the mid-XIII century used to be here – run by the Franciscan friars, who lived in this almost totally secluded area of the city.

Large gardens were created around the monastery and enclosed within the convent walls, which are still visible today. This green and silent oasis is managed by the Order of Friars Minor. The name itself, San Francesco della Vigna, suggests the predominant type of cultivation: the vineyard (“vigna”), donated to the friars by Marco Ziani, the son of Doge Pietro, in 1253.

The two cloisters of the convent are surrounded by a colonnade and preserve monumental specimens of cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens). Through the stained glass windows, visitors can see the corridors of the convent.
The Franciscan Minor Friars still cultivate part of this land and have created a botanical garden that overlooks the North Lagoon. The larger of the two cloisters was used as the cemetery of Venetian nobles. Large stone tombstones, with inscriptions in Italian and Latin, can be seen along the four sides of the garden and create a very particular walkway.
As the legend goes, the Evangelist Mark found refuge in this place, returning from Aquileia. Here, he was greeted by an angel who spoke the words “Pax tibi Marce Evangelista meum” (“Peace to you, Marco, my evangelist”) – the same written in the Bible of the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of the Serenissima Republic.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)