Church of Saint Mary della Pomposa (Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pomposa)

The ancient church of Santa Maria Pomposa owes its name to its original dependence on the monastery of Pomposa near Comacchio. Transformed into an independent provostry, its provosts included two members of the House of Este: Cardinal Ippolito (1491) and Prince Gian Federico (1711). In 1716, it passed to the great historiographer Ludovico Antonio Muratori, who rebuilt it at his own expense in the form still visible today.

Abolished at the end of the 18th century, it risked destruction but was saved by the establishment of the Confraternity of St. Sebastian. In 1922, Muratori’s bones were moved there, and he is commemorated not only by the monument inside the church, but also by a museum set up in the premises of the rectory, where he lived.