'100 Churches of Venice and the Lagoon' is a photographic project started by Alejandro Merizalde in 2014, alongside a broader body of black and white work that began in the city in 2008. The color photographs in this book document religious temples from every sestiere in Venice and the smaller towns surrounding the Venetian lagoon: from Murano to Burano and Torcello; from Pellestrina to Chioggia and deep into the northern lagoon to areas like Lio Piccolo, Mesole and beyond, Merizalde found and photographed their respective churches whether they remained in service or had been deconsecrated or repurposed. Following their architectural similarities, the book presents a layout that favors the façade and relies on this subtle repetition for artistic sustenance and balance.
A poignant essay by Marina Gasparini Lagrange provides an account that combines her personal experience as a former resident with her intellectual and historical perspective. '100 Churches of Venice and the Lagoon' presents an in-depth view of Venetian culture and history through its places of worship in a book of exceptional appeal.