A Safe haven built on the ideals of Grace & Beauty
In and around 1558-1560, there is a record of a Jesuit priest, Benedetto Palmio, of the first Provinciale of Lombardy, holding a series of sermons in Venice with which he urged his listeners to devote themselves to "founding a home for Cittelle (Unmarried Women) to free them from the danger of eternal damnation, the certain fate of virgins who, being beautiful and graceful, unhappily lost themselves due to the malevolence of those who should be solicitous about their health and bring them up in the holy fear of God." (Benedetto Palmio, Cittelle Constitution, 1738).
His words struck the hearts and minds of Venetians so much so that in 1599, the Venetian Istituto delle Zitelle (Home for Unmarried Women) was formed. Two congregations, one of men and one of women, were responsible for the administration of this endeavour. Admission was a rigorous and somewhat difficult process, and in some ways conjures up images of a modern day beauty pageant. Age was the first criteria. According to the documentation, "the women could not and must not be accepted if they were not virgins between the ages of twelve and eighteen". Next to be judged was their state of health, physical appearance and demeanour. Records read, "they are to be healthy, pretty, showy and graceful". And last, their social and economic states were considered, i.e., were they "in danger of being cast down with injury and loss of their eternal salvation, or leading a sad and wicked life due either to malevolence or to the wickedness of fathers and mothers or of other people because they are very poor, but very beautiful." All were taken into account and the congregation made their decision by vote and about 200 unmarried women were selected to live in the safe haven by 1583. Towards the end of the 17th century, it became imperative to expand the convent and most historians assume it was during this period that the last floor of the complex was added and the two southern wings were built. In a drawing by Paolo Rossi in 1720, the structure is complete with the added wings surrounding the courtyard with a centre well. Around this same time, two low rooms on the sides of the presbytery were built to allow the girls to hear Mass through grilled windows. And, the lovely fireplace found on the first floor of the left wing was also built. Interestingly enough, Rossi's drawing depicts the well bearing the coat of arms of the Loredan family. This actually dates the property back to the early 14th-century, confirmed in Senate documentation indicating a concession was made to allow the family to reclaim the premises.
His words struck the hearts and minds of Venetians so much so that in 1599, the Venetian Istituto delle Zitelle (Home for Unmarried Women) was formed. Two congregations, one of men and one of women, were responsible for the administration of this endeavour. Admission was a rigorous and somewhat difficult process, and in some ways conjures up images of a modern day beauty pageant. Age was the first criteria. According to the documentation, "the women could not and must not be accepted if they were not virgins between the ages of twelve and eighteen". Next to be judged was their state of health, physical appearance and demeanour. Records read, "they are to be healthy, pretty, showy and graceful". And last, their social and economic states were considered, i.e., were they "in danger of being cast down with injury and loss of their eternal salvation, or leading a sad and wicked life due either to malevolence or to the wickedness of fathers and mothers or of other people because they are very poor, but very beautiful." All were taken into account and the congregation made their decision by vote and about 200 unmarried women were selected to live in the safe haven by 1583. Towards the end of the 17th century, it became imperative to expand the convent and most historians assume it was during this period that the last floor of the complex was added and the two southern wings were built. In a drawing by Paolo Rossi in 1720, the structure is complete with the added wings surrounding the courtyard with a centre well. Around this same time, two low rooms on the sides of the presbytery were built to allow the girls to hear Mass through grilled windows. And, the lovely fireplace found on the first floor of the left wing was also built. Interestingly enough, Rossi's drawing depicts the well bearing the coat of arms of the Loredan family. This actually dates the property back to the early 14th-century, confirmed in Senate documentation indicating a concession was made to allow the family to reclaim the premises.
