Madonna dell’Orto is in Cannaregio, Venice, by the rio and canal area near the church and campo of the same name.
 
Madonna dell’Orto (literally “Madonna of the vegetable garden”) in Venice, especially its connection to Tintoretto, its unusual naming story, and some lesser-known details. The church and monastery were founded around 1350 by the Umiliati, a religious order from Lombardy, and were initially dedicated to Saint Christopher, patron of travelers and sailors.
 
The unusual name Madonna dell’Orto comes from a local legend. A Venetian sculptor, Giovanni De Santi, was commissioned to make a statue of the Madonna and Child for the church of Santa Maria Formosa. The parish priest rejected the statue, so De Santi temporarily placed it in his garden. The statue began to emit a strange glow, especially at night, and people started gathering to pray there, treating it as miraculous.
 
The bishop, worried about uncontrolled popular devotion, asked De Santi to place the statue in a proper church.De Santi offered the statue to the newly founded church of San Cristoforo, on condition that:
•    He be buried where the statue was found,
•    A mass be celebrated for him forever,
•    And a large sum of money be paid!
 
The friars could not afford the cash and so the statue was instead purchased by the Scuola di San Cristoforo and officially entered the church in 1377 and you can still see it today!
 
Interesting facts...
Madonna dell’Orto is often called “Tintoretto’s church” because of its deep ties to the painter. He lived nearby and it was his parish church. He painted extensively on the church and you can go and see his master works today.