Treviso | Saint Martin’s church

Some argue that the first town chapel, dedicated to St. Martin, dates back to Bishop Felix, who in 569 saved the city from destruction by the Lombards. Some historical sources indicate its origins in the eighth century, after the foundation of the monastery of Saints Peter, Paul and Teonisto. It was one of the oldest churches in Treviso in the Romanesque style and free of any Venetian influences. The early Church was completely destroyed as a result of a bombing on 7 April 1944. it was rebuilt in 1963 with a tree structure and a single nave of about 400sqm. The entire structure uses two unconventional pillars supporting the roof without the assistance from the walls. The side walls, offset from each other, are like 14 Stations of the Cross, in order to emphasize the difficulties and suffering present in the life of a man. The construction of the tower dates from the end of the eleventh century and the beginning of the twelth century, in a style that combined in original synthesis modes and elements of the Romanesque Lombard period with exarchal tradition.Though it has undergone several restorations, the bell tower still appears in its original condition.