In Cannaregio district of Venice overlooking the Gran Canal stands San Geremia, a Baroque church with a distinctive 12th century Romanesque brick tower. The church is dedicated to Saint Jeremiah, but also holds the relics of Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia di Siracusa) which had been previously kept in the church by the same name, but were transferred to San Geremia in 1861 when the church of Saint Lucy was pulled down to build a railway station.
In 1981 precisely these relics were the cause of a burglary in San Geremia. The church was broken into and the Saint’s remains were stolen to be retrieved months later on the day of her celebration, 13 December.
Saint Lucy’s grave is still the main attraction among visitors and pilgrims that come to the church in increasing numbers every year to light a candle and to pray to this patron saint of the blind and visually impaired.


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