Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice

Discover the city’s religious and artistic heritage at Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, one of the landmark buildings on the Grand Canal. The history of this building goes back to the early 17th century, when the city experienced a devastating outbreak of the plague. As a votive offering for the people’s deliverance from this pestilence, the city vowed to build and dedicate a church to Our Lady of Health (or Deliverance). The church was designed in the then-fashionable Baroque style, and construction began in 1631. Most of the art housed inside the church bears some reference to the historic plague. The emblematic dome of this building was an important addition to the city’s skyline, said to have inspired numerous artists, including Canaletto and J.M.W. Turner, among many others. Drop by the church’s famous facade, which is embellished with 125 statues. Plan your Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute visit and explore what else you can see and do in Venice using our Venice vacation planning app.