Why does Santa Maria della Salute stand so prominently? The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, or simply La Salute, is more than a church. It is a testament to Venice’s resilience. It is located at the Punta della Dogana in Venice.
In 1630, a devastating plague swept through Venice. Nearly a third of the population perished. The Venetian Republic vowed to build a church to Our Lady of Health for deliverance from the pestilence.
The Senate chose this location, in part, due to its relationship to San Giorgio, San Marco, and Il Redentore forming an arc. It stands adjacent to the Dogana da Mar, the emblem of Venice’s maritime commerce.
Baldassare Longhena designed the Salute in the Baroque style. Construction began in 1631. Longhena saw the structure as crown-like. The decorative circular building resembles a reliquary.
The dome became an important addition to the Venice skyline. It appears in artworks by Canaletto, J. M. W. Turner, and John Singer Sargent.
The end of the 1630 plague was attributed to the intercession of an icon of the Virgin Mary. Sea captain Francesco Morosini brought it to Venice in 1670. It was a trophy from the war of Candia. The icon was placed inside the basilica on November 21, the patronal feast day.
Every year on November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin is celebrated. It is known as the Festa della Madonna della Salute. City officials parade from San Marco to the Salute. A service is held in gratitude for deliverance from the plague. This involves crossing the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge. It remains a major event in Venice.
The Salute is an octagonal building with two domes and bell-towers. It is built on a platform of 1,000,000 wooden piles. Istrian stone and marmorino were used for its construction. A statue of the Virgin Mary stands at the apex of the pediment. The facade features Saint George, Saint Theodore, the Evangelists, and Judith.
The interior is octagonal with eight radiating chapels. The three altars to the right depict scenes from the Virgin Mary’s life by Luca Giordano. Titian painted The Descent of the Holy Ghost. The Baroque high altar shelters a Byzantine Madonna and Child icon. Josse de Corte created the statuary group depicting The Queen of Heaven expelling the Plague.
Tintoretto painted Marriage at Cana. Titian painted St. Mark Enthroned with Saints Cosmas, Damian, Sebastian and Roch. He also created ceiling paintings of David and Goliath and others.
The Santa Maria della Salute stands as a beacon of hope. It is a reminder of Venice’s enduring spirit. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Remember the story behind its creation.