Chiesa di San Niccolò dei Greci

Dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, the Greek Orthodox church of San Nicolò stands on Trieste's waterfront beside the Grand Canal. Built by the Greek community in the 1780s and given its neoclassical appearance by Matteo Pertsch, it preserves a richly decorated Orthodox interior.

Why it matters

After Empress Maria Theresa's 1751 concession allowed Greeks and Serbs to worship together, the two communities separated in 1781. The Greeks then built their own church between 1784 and 1787 for the Eastern Greek Community, dedicating it to the Holy Trinity and San Nicola, protector of seafarers and maritime trade. The first liturgy was celebrated on 18 February 1787, with the bishop of Modone Anthimos officiating before governor Count Pompeo de Brigido. The church reflects the place of the Greek merchant community in the port city's life.

What to notice

The façade has six Ionic pilasters beneath a triangular pediment, with two recessed bell towers capped by curved cupolas. The black-and-white marble floor centres on an eight-pointed star. Inside, a three-apsed sanctuary and single nave are set beneath rear balconies, including a gallery traditionally reserved for women. A carved and gilded iconostasis holds large icons in its lower register and tempera panels of Gospel scenes above. The interior also contains paintings by Cesare Dell'Acqua and icons by Giorgio Trigonis, as well as three chandeliers of Russian workmanship.

Context and history

Originally plain, the church was restored and embellished between 1819 and 1821 at the expense of Demetrio Carciotti and other Greek merchants. Under Pertsch's direction, the work gave the building its present appearance. Plaques on the pews record Greek families who contributed to its construction and decoration. The Eastern Greek Community remains associated with the church and its history in Trieste.