Archaeologists discover possible fifth-century bishop’s church near Venice

Archaeologists from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice have identified the remains of a church dating from between the late fourth century and the first half of the fifth century in the ancient city of Altino, northern Italy.

The building has a rectangular floor plan measuring approximately 30 by 20 metres, with no apse, and is oriented towards the east, in keeping with Christian liturgical tradition.

Archaeologists believe its size and architectural features suggest that it may have been the city’s ancient bishop’s church.

“For the first time, we can say with a very high degree of confidence where the church and the bishop’s palace of Altino stood. Written sources told us they must have existed; now we have archaeological evidence to support this,” said Diego Calaon, director of the archaeological research and professor at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

A church mentioned in the letters of St Jerome Historical sources previously attested to a significant Christian community in Altino, particularly the correspondence of St Jerome with Heliodorus, the city’s first bishop.

In a letter dating from 396, St Jerome mentions the care the priest Nepotian, Bishop…