The Church of Santa Teresa was built in the XVII century in “Sestiere Dorsoduro” by Andrea Cominelli and consecrated in 1688. Up until 1810, it housed a nunnery that later became an orphanage. In the XX century it became a dorm for the homeless, while today it is used as a classroom by IUAV University.
The Church was built thanks to Maria, daughter of Lodovico Ferrazzi e Maddalena Poli, who commissioned the construction of four monasteries in Verona, Venezia, Padova and Vicenza for the “Carmelitane” virgins, also known as Terese. It later became a cloistered convent.
The facade is disadorn, with only a central entrance and two lateral ones. The inside has a square diagram, with paintings and decorations in Baroque style. There are many altars: the first one houses a painting of Sant’Orsola, la Maddalena e Angeli, by Francesco Ruschi, on the right one a painting by Fra Massimo da Verona of L’Arcangelo Michele e i santi Francesco di Paola, Andrea Corsini e Alberto.
The first altar on the left of the presbytery was damaged during the bombings of World War II and its painting, Cristo in Croce e la Maddalena by Giovan Battista Langetti, was moved to the Museo del Settecento veneziano di Ca’ Rezzonico to be restored.
The main altar of the XVIII century has marble decorations. The ceiling has a painting of Saint Teresa by Nicolò Renieri.
On the left side of the Church, there is the nunnery with the cloister.
