The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a basilica church on the island of Torcello, Venice, northern Italy. It is a notable example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture, one of the most ancient religious edifices in the Veneto. Torcello is a quiet island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. ... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia) is the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... Veneto or Venetia is one of the 20 regions of Italy. ...

According to an ancient inscription, it was founded by the exarch Isaac of Ravenna in 639. The baptistery, whose remains are visible next to the church's façade, is also from the 7th century, while the bell tower dates from the 11th century. The Exarchate of Ravenna was a center of Byzantine power in Italy, from the end of the 6th century to 751 A.D., when the last Exarch was put to death by the Emperors enemies in Italy, the Lombards. ... Isaac the Armenian was an Exarch of Ravenna (c. ... Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ...

The Cathedral was largely restored in 864 and 1004.

The most striking exterior features are the decoration of the façade and the frontal portico, enlarged in the 14th century. The interior, with a nave and two aisles, has a marble pavement, the throne of the bishops of Altino and the sepulchre of St. Eliodorus, first bishop of Altino. Noteworthy is also a painting depicting a Madonna with Child in the middle apse 815th century). The altino, essentially a male contralto, is a rare male voice type, commonly considered the true countertenor. ...

The most important artistical element of the cathedral: a series of mosaics of Byzantine-Ravennate school, including a Last Judgement in the counter-façade.

External links

• Page at Venice's Portal (Italian)