Madonna della Salute Church
... for the Venetians, with which they fell to be deeply attached.
Perched few steps from Punta della Dogana, its construction started in 1631 on a project of Longhena and the Basilica was inaugurated during 1687. The reason of the building of the church is the pestilence of 1630, which caused the death of almost 80.000 Venetians.
The huge marble structure, whose façade is one of the most beautiful baroque expression, stands on a octagonal plan, dominated by an impressive Venetian style dome, followed by a smaller one surrounde by a couple of twin bell towers.
Unfalling are the magnificent arts inside the Basilica, like Tiziano’s Pentecost, Saint Rocco and Saint Sebastiano, David and Golia, Caino and Abele, Tintoretto’s Cana’s Marriage and Giona and Sansone of Palma il Giovane. Close to the Basilica we find the ancient customs, built to control incoming goods, and on the edge outstretched to the lagoon the Fortune statue, a golden globe supported by two giants.
Every year on November 21st, day of its consecration, the Venetians are used to go and pray to the Church, using a boat bridge connecting Saint Mark’s and Punta della Dogana.
Visiting time:
Every day 9-12 and 15-18
Tel: 0412743911 – 0412743928 – 0415225558
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