Museo Civico della Laguna Sud "San Francesco fuori le mura"

The Museum of the Southern Lagoon occupies the former Franciscan convent of San Francesco fuori le mura in Chioggia. Its collections bring together archaeological finds, historical documents and material culture associated with the lagoon south of the Brenta.

Why it matters

The convent was founded in 1314, damaged during the War of Chioggia in 1379 and rebuilt from 1434. After the church was deconsecrated in 1806, the complex passed through civic uses before becoming a museum. Opened in 1997, the museum combines archaeology of the southern lagoon with Chioggia's historical collections and maritime heritage.

What to notice

The ground-floor collections range from the Bronze Age to the sixth century AD, including material from the Corte Cavanella site and amphorae recovered from the lagoon. Medieval objects from the Torre delle Bebe area include glazed tableware and coins. On another floor, reproductions of Cristoforo Sabbadino's 1557 plans document the Republic of Venice's water-management work; bronze grain measures dated 1332 bear the city's oldest known coat of arms. The maritime collection includes tools, nets and models of the bragozzo, a local fishing boat. The museum also presents paintings by local artists and a Roman lapidary in the courtyard.

Context and history

The convent began at the edge of the medieval city and was rebuilt after damage sustained during the Genoese conflict of the late fourteenth century. The complex later served different civic purposes before its conversion to cultural use. Its collections span the lagoon's archaeology, hydraulic engineering, maritime trades and local visual culture. The historical archive associated with the museum preserves documents dating back to 1246.