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Santa Maria della Salute, a Roman Catholic church, is positioned on the narrow Punta della Dogana that lies between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal in Venice. Construction began in 1631 following a devastating outbreak of the plague, and the church was dedicated to Our Lady of Deliverance (“Salute”), with many of its artworks referencing the “Black Death”.
The church's site was selected as it allowed for an easy procession from Piazza San Marco during the Festa della Madonna della Salute, which saw the city’s officials parade to the church in gratitude for deliverance from the plague. This is still a major event and attraction in Venice, taking place on November 21 each year.
The interior is also octagonal, with eight radiating chapels and three altars decorated with scenes from the Virgin Mary’s life. It features a Baroque high altar with an iconic Byzantine Madonna and Child that dates to the 12th or 13th centuries, having been brought from Candia (now Heraklion, Crete) in the 17th century when it fell to the Ottomans.
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.