Santa Maria della Salute

Santa Maria della Salute is a Roman Catholic church at the tip of the Punta della Dogana, on the spit of land where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal. Construction began in 1631 after an outbreak of plague killed roughly a third of the city's population, and the church was dedicated to Our Lady of Deliverance -- Salute meaning both health and salvation -- with much of its imagery referring back to the epidemic.

The site was chosen partly so that the church could be reached by procession from Piazza San Marco. That procession still happens: every 21 November, for the Festa della Madonna della Salute, a temporary pontoon bridge is laid across the Grand Canal and Venetians walk over it to the church, as they have done almost without interruption since 1631.

Its dome is one of the defining shapes of the Venetian skyline, painted repeatedly by Canaletto, Francesco Guardi, and later John Singer Sargent, and is the first major structure most arrivals by water see on the Dorsoduro side of the canal.

The church remains an active parish and seminary, and quiet, respectful conduct is expected as in any working place of worship. Its relative calm compared to Venice's most-visited sites makes it a reasonable alternative for visitors looking to avoid the heaviest crowds elsewhere in the city.

The church sits at the tip of the Dorsoduro sestiere, where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal, facing Piazza San Marco across the water.

• Getting there: the Salute vaporetto stop sits directly outside, or it's a walkable, scenic loop around the point from the Accademia Bridge.
• Entry: the main church is free to enter; a small fee applies to visit the sacristy, which holds several notable paintings including works by Titian.
• Timing: a visit typically takes 20-30 minutes outside of the November festival, when crowds and queues are considerably longer.