Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell'Assunta

Torcello, an island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon, is home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, established in 639 according to the wishes of t...
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Torcello, an island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon, is home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, established in 639 according to the wishes of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius and the Exarch of Ravenna. An inscription at the site, dating from the cathedral’s founding, is considered the oldest known document in Venetian history. The church was expanded and renovated on several occasions over the centuries, reaching its current size in the 11th century, during the tenure of Bishop Orso Orseolo, son of the Venetian Doge. The cathedral also became home to a series of elaborate Byzantine wall mosaics during the 11th century.
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