- you are here: Home
- Hidden Treasures
- St. Joseph's and Father's day in Venice

St. Joseph's and Father's day in Venice
March 19th is Father's Day and the day in which we celebrate St. Joseph, the ‘father' of Jesus.
There are countless representations of the Nativity with Christ in them but St. Joseph has always been portrayed as marginal and unimportant. However, there is an incredible exception in Venice: it is a painting by the famous painter Giambattista Tiepolo, which represents the birth of Jesus.
In fact, in the painting there is St. Joseph who is lovingly rocking the baby, like a good dad, and the Saint is assisted by two small angels, who are preparing the rolls of cloth to wrap him.
This incredible work adorns an altar in the church of San Zulian at the Mercerie of Rialto, dedicated to St. Joseph. When the church became part of the parish of St. Mark's at the beginning of the 800s, the painting, by Tiepolo, was transferred to the small church of St. Teodoro which is located next to the sacristy of the church. A few years ago the Patriarch Scola (now Archbishop of Milan and possible successor of Benedict XVI) chose to decorate the new chapel in the patriarchal palace, where it remains today.
To visit the Palace of the Patriarchs of Venice, an imposing neoclassical building on the left of the medieval St Mark's Basilica, you should contact the Pastoral Office of Tourism at the Curia of Venice.
- Google+
- tumblr
Search posts
Latest posts
Venice: What happened on May 16 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Boldo (St. Ubald Bishop) a church was dedicated to the Sain...
ViewVenice: What happened on May 1 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, today’s Saints are Sts. Philip and James, Apostles and Saint Scholastica, of whom ther...
ViewVenice: What happened on April 25 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Mark, Evangelist, Patron Saint of Venice It is the First Fea...
ViewVenice: What happened on April 20 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, the Saint of the Day is St. Victor. - April 20, 1797: capture of the French friga...
ViewTop posts
Venice: 10 songs that will make you think of Venice

Did you know that...
Sometimes we hear the first few lines of a song and our minds are suddenly transported back to a place, a memory or a dream. We put tog...
ViewPadua: Vò Euganeo: a place to be discovered

Unknown places & works
In the last few months there has been much talking around the small town of Vò, in the province of Padua. It was at the center of ever...
ViewVenice: 10 must-see movies filmed in Venice

Film Locations
Venice is unique amongst world cities and every year it turns into a dream-like experience for scores of tourists thanks to its timeles...
ViewChioggia: The Valley of the Seven Dead Men

Mysteries & Legends
Halloween is just around the corner: have you already got into the fascinating terrifying aura of the scariest party of the year? No ye...
View