Attraction
St Mark’s Basilica
Venice's cathedral on Piazza San Marco, a Byzantine-influenced church consecrated in 1094 with gold-ground mosaics, the Pala d'Oro altarpiece and the original bronze horses.
Santa Maria della Salute
The domed Baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built by Longhena as a votive offering after the plague of 1630, with works by Titian and Tintoretto.
At a glance
- Type
- Baroque basilica
- Area
- Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy
- Official site
- basilicasalutevenezia.it
Good to know
- Free entry to the church
- Sacristy museum (ticket)
- Panoramic terrace visits
Why we recommend it
Santa Maria della Salute is the great domed church that guards the entrance to the Grand Canal, opposite St Mark's Square, and it is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Venetian skyline. In October 1630, during a devastating plague that killed a large share of the population, the Senate vowed to build a church to the Virgin Mary if the city was spared. Baldassare Longhena, then a young architect, won the commission, and construction began in 1631. The building was finished in the 1680s, shortly before Longhena's death.
The church is octagonal, crowned by a large dome, and its exterior is carried on huge scroll-shaped buttresses. Inside, the plan draws the eye towards the high altar, which holds a Byzantine icon of the Madonna and Child, the Panagia Mesopantitissa. The rotunda is free to enter. The great sacristy, which is the church's museum, requires a ticket and holds an altarpiece by Titian and Tintoretto's Marriage at Cana. The basilica also offers bookable visits to the seminary museum and a panoramic terrace.
Every year on 21 November, Venice celebrates the Festa della Salute. A temporary pontoon bridge is laid across the Grand Canal, and city officials and residents cross it to give thanks, a tradition that has continued since the seventeenth century. It is a good time to see the church as Venetians use it, though it is very busy.
Opening times vary by season, and the sacristy has shorter hours than the church, with closures on some days, so check the official site before you go; access may also be limited during services. Allow 30 minutes for the church and longer if you visit the sacristy. The church suits everyone, and its steps facing the canal are a pleasant place to sit and watch the boats. Visitors with limited mobility should note the wide flight of steps at the main entrance.
The Salute vaporetto stop on Line 1 is right in front of the church. The Punta della Dogana, the old customs house at the tip of Dorsoduro, is next door, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a few minutes' walk west.
Santa Maria della Salute FAQs
Is it free to visit Santa Maria della Salute?
The main church is free to enter. The great sacristy, which holds works by Titian and Tintoretto, requires a ticket.
Why was the church built?
The Venetian Senate vowed to build it in 1630 as an offering to the Virgin Mary for deliverance from plague.
What is the Festa della Salute?
A festival held every 21 November, when a temporary pontoon bridge is laid across the Grand Canal for people to walk to the church.
Can I visit the terrace?
Visits to the seminary museum and the panoramic terrace can be booked through the official site.
How long should I allow?
About 30 minutes for the church, longer if you visit the sacristy or terrace.
How do I get there?
Take vaporetto Line 1 to the Salute stop, directly in front of the church.
What is nearby?
The Punta della Dogana is next door, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a few minutes' walk away.