Recognized as the most important social institutions in the Serenissima Republic of Venice, the Scuola di Santa Maria della Misericordia, the building was one of the seven ‘Scuole Grandi’ (‘great schools’) of Venice, along with those of San Marco, San Rocco, San Giovanni Evangelista, Santa Maria della Carità, San Teodoro, and dei Carmini, represented the seven “Scuole Grandi” of Venice whose members were predominantly high dignitaries in Venetian society.
Scuola Grande della Misericordia was inaugurated in 1583, (the imposing quadrangular structure was strongly influenced by Roman classicism, which the great architect knew from the works of Bramante, Raphael, and Sangallo) however, construction works and some modifications was developed over 200 years. The building was abandoned following the fall of the venetian republic, and from the early 1800s the school was used in a range of different ways: first as a military barracks, then as a warehouse, and finally as the location of the state archives.
Scuola Grande della Misericordia was inaugurated in 1583, (the imposing quadrangular structure was strongly influenced by Roman classicism, which the great architect knew from the works of Bramante, Raphael, and Sangallo) however, construction works and some modifications was developed over 200 years. The building was abandoned following the fall of the venetian republic, and from the early 1800s the school was used in a range of different ways: first as a military barracks, then as a warehouse, and finally as the location of the state archives.
Venice’s Scuola Grande della Misericordia (a historic building that is part of the city’s cultural and artistic heritage) has undergone a major renovation, transforming it into an events and exhibitions venue.
From 1914 until 1991 the Scuola Grande della Misericordia became home to the educational and sporting activities of the Costantino Reyer Sports Club, a sports facility, hosting both gymnastics and basketball. In 2015, TA architettura (Alberto Torsello) received the commission of a renovation project, which has resulted in contemporary spaces capable of hosting events, exhibitions, and meetings. The project seeks to retain the charm of the original building, while updating it for today’s requirements. Divided across two levels, 26,000 square metres of space serves as the setting for a variety of installations. In 2016, the company S.M.V. completes restoration works of the project by architect Alberto Torsello from TA architettura and Gruppo Umana.
