In 1315, Giacomina Scorpioni asked Filippo Salamon and Marco Sanudo Torsello to build the church of S. Marta and S. Andrea in S. Nicolò. In 1318, Scorpioni changed the plan, dedicating the complex to the Benedictine nuns. In 1805, the church and convent became a military depot.
The origin of the nocturnal feast of S. Marta is uncertain: some link it to the banquet offered by S. Marta to Jesus Christ, others to the fishing of sole, called “sfoglia,” cooked by fishermen on the beach. Over time, the upper class transformed the event into lavish dinners on the beach or on illuminated boats, accompanied by music and songs. Today, only a faint memory remains of the celebration.
