Santa Maria della Salute

Santa Maria della Salute is a Roman Catholic basilica at the Punta della Dogana in Venice, where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal. Its large dome is a landmark visible when entering Piazza San Marco from the water. The church was built as a votive offering after a devastating plague in 1630 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Don't miss

• The octagonal interior with eight radiating chapels, full of Marian symbolism: the dome represents her crown, the interior her womb, and the eight sides her star.
• The Baroque high altar, designed by Longhena, shelters a 12th- or 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Madonna and Child called Panagia Mesopantitissa.
• The statuary group above the high altar, 'The Queen of Heaven expelling the Plague' (1670), by Flemish sculptor Josse de Corte.
• Paintings by Titian in the great sacristy, including 'St. Mark Enthroned with Saints' and ceiling panels of David and Goliath, Abraham and Isaac, and Cain and Abel.
• Tintoretto's 'Marriage at Cana' (1561) in the great sacristy, which includes a self-portrait.
• The exterior dome, built on a platform of 1,000,000 wooden piles, made of Istrian stone and marmorino, with a statue of the Virgin Mary at the pediment's apex.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Santa Maria della Salute

Cheapest way inDa Vinci Interactive Museum Venice Scuola di San Rocco4.2★ · 184 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$12 per personSee dates →Most bookedLegendary Venice: Doge's Palace, St Mark's & VIP Terrace Access4.7★ · 5,690 travelers2-3 hoursFrom$83 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleVenice Must See Attractions Walking Tour With A Guide4.7★ · 113 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$41 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• The church stands at Punta della Dogana in the Dorsoduro district, between the Grand Canal and Giudecca Canal.
• On November 21, the Festa della Madonna della Salute includes a procession across a pontoon bridge from San Marco to the church.

A bit of history

In 1630, a plague killed nearly a third of Venice's population. The Senate vowed to build a church to the Virgin Mary if the city was spared. Architect Baldassare Longhena won a competition with his octagonal design, and construction began in 1631. The church was completed in 1681, the year before Longhena's death. Each year on November 21, the Festa della Madonna della Salute commemorates the deliverance, with officials parading across a pontoon bridge from San Marco to the Salute.