The East Meets the West: Influences of the Latin and Byzantine Traditions in the Northern Adriatic Region Seen in the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello Island

With an emphasis on the distinctive decoration of the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello Island in the Venetian Lagoon, in my paper, I try to highlight the influence of Latin and Byzantine traditions on the iconography of the northern Adriatic region. The research is divided into three main sections. First, I note the main possible historical and cultural reasons of the interpenetration of many civilizations and traditions in this area, thereby quickly presenting broad features of the northern Adriatic Sea. Then, I describe Torcello’s broad cultural legacy. The variety of religious buildings on the island vividly demonstrates its crossculturalism. I focus on the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, where several architectural and iconographic elements combining Latin and Byzantine inspirations create an artistic and unique fusion. In the third section, I look at the scenes shown in the eastern and western sections of the Basilica, the stylistic variations and similarities occurring there, the inscriptions present in the mosaic decorations, and the iconographic motifs that either complement or match each other. Finally, in the concluding section, I stress the unique character of Torcello Island and the great quality of the mosaic decorations in the Basilica as resulting from the presence of the studied Latin and Byzantine elements, which together offer a harmonious whole and complementarity between two major European cultural traditions.