ABSTRACT
The church of Santa Fosca in Torcello can be defined as a unicum, thanks to its singular plan organization as well as to its particular spatial configuration. Its origins are unknown. Although in the present configuration no heavy and massive masonry dome is present, many cracks and discontinuities are visible in the Venetian church. Starting from the Nineteenth century, indeed, a long historiographical tradition has stated similarities between the church of Santa Fosca and a specific typology of basilicas that developed in Greece, since the beginning of the XI century. The debate about Santa Fosca involves this specific aspect: the hypothetical existence of a former masonry dome, which might have collapsed some decades after its erection. On the contrary, the facades of the three short arms are simpler and crowned by gables. Both the Western and the Southern arms are characterised by three archwindows while a blank semi-circular opening occurs on the Northern side.
