Baldassare Longhena Facts for Kids

Baldassare Longhena was a famous Italian architect. He lived from 1598 to 1682. He mostly worked in the city of Venice. Longhena was one of the best architects of the Baroque style during his time.

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Biography

Baldassare Longhena was born in Venice. He learned architecture from another famous architect, Vincenzo Scamozzi. After Scamozzi passed away, Longhena finished a very important building project. This was the Procuratie Nuove in St. Mark's Square. It was a large group of buildings. They were homes and offices for important people of the Venetian Republic. The Venetian Republic was the government of Venice back then. These buildings still shape the look of St. Mark's Square today.

Longhena's most famous building is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. He started building it in 1631. It was built to thank the Virgin Mary for saving the city from the plague. This church has two large domes. It sits on a piece of land between the Grand Canal and the Zattere. It is one of Venice's most famous sights. The main entrance looks like a Roman victory arch. Other churches and cathedrals in Venice and elsewhere later copied this design.

He designed many other churches in Venice. These include the Chiesa dell'Ospedaletto and Santa Maria di Nazareth. He built Santa Maria di Nazareth between 1656 and 1680. However, another architect named Giuseppe Sardi designed its front. Longhena also designed two palaces facing the Grand Canal. These were the Palazzo Belloni Battagia and the Palazzo Giustiniani Lolin.

One of his biggest projects was the Chioggia Cathedral. He worked on this cathedral between 1624 and 1647. After finishing the cathedral, he designed two more palaces on the Grand Canal. These were Ca' Rezzonico and Ca' Pesaro. Both of these palaces were finished after he died.

Between 1641 and 1680, Longhena designed several parts of the San Giorgio Maggiore monastery. He designed the new library and a grand staircase. He also created the monastery's front, the Novitiate building, the sick-room, and the guest-rooms.

Baldassare Longhena died in Venice in 1682.