The church was supposedly founded in 864 when citizens from the mainland town of Aquileia fled to the lagoon islands of Venice to avoid the barbarian hordes.

The church at the site was renovated in 1330, consecrated in 1351, and restored in 1550, and again finally reshaped in the early 18th century to a design by Antonio Gaspari.

The four side altars dedicated to the Madonna have canvases by Giuseppe Angeli and Bartolomeo Letterini.

Clemente Molli sculpted the statue of San Maximus, first bishop of Cittanova in Istria.

The chancel altarpiece depicts The Glory of the martyred Saints Canzio, Canziano, and Canzianilla attributed to Paolo Zoppo.It is flanked by a painting of the Probatic Pond and Multiplication of the loaves by Domenico Zanchi.