How is Il Redentore in Venice arranged as a Latin-cross church?

Il Redentore in Venice is arranged as a Latin-cross church to accommodate the specific liturgical requirements of the Counter-Reformation, which necessitated distinct spaces for different religious functions.1

The interior layout is designed to serve the needs of the Franciscan order, featuring a large nave intended for sermons and side chapels designated for private prayer. The crossing of the church serves as the focal point where the doge and senate would participate in annual ceremonial and votive visits. To manage these spatial demands, the design incorporates a tri-conch shape, which creates the visual impression of a wider interior space. Additionally, the choir is positioned behind a semicircular screen of columns, and the apse is illuminated by light from the dome above and the choir area.21