The Church of Santa Maria in Vado, with ancient origins, was constructed near a ford (known as “vado” in Italian) that crossed one of the numerous canals in the area. Its religious significance is associated with a Eucharistic miracle that occurred on Easter Day in 1171. During the moment of consecration, blood miraculously spurted from the host, staining the apsidal vault above the altar. This event turned the church into a pilgrimage site.

In 1495, under the patronage of Duke Ercole I d’Este, significant architectural expansion work began on the church, directed by the architect Biagio Rossetti. The church’s interior follows a basilica layout, featuring three aisles separated by columns, an apse, and a transept. One notable artwork in the lateral aisles is the Madonna of Constantinople, located in the fourth bay on the right. The church’s ceiling is adorned with five paintings by Carlo Bononi (1569-1632), showcasing the artist’s mastery of foreshortened views from below.

The Santa Maria in Vado, Ferrara appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Ferrara!

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