ABSTRACT
The grandeur and beauty of Venetian churches and convents reflected and enhanced the spiritual wealth of Venice and contributed to collective pride in the city. The Benedictine convent of S.Zaccaria was founded in 829 by the Partipazio family, the first convent foundation in Venice, in an area of Castello behind St Mark's. The donations of the faithful to S.Zaccaria also reaffirmed the importance of the church and noble convent in Venetian society, whilst in turn the beauty of the church reflected upon the city. The importance of S.Zaccaria in the city can be seen from the pomp and display of its rituals. The election of an abbess, the confirmation of postulants, and the celebration of certain feast-days had their place amongst the social engagements of the Venetian patriciate and citizen society. The glory and magnificence of the church and convent were tempered by the nuns' scandalous behaviour, which resulted in the introduction of observant nuns from S.Servolo.
