Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health), Venice (must see)

San Marco may dominate postcards by reputation, but when it comes to Venice’s most recognizable outline, the real scene-stealer is the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. Known locally as La Salute, this sweeping white church commands the entrance to the Grand Canal with a dome that feels less like a roof and more like a statement. It stands as the clearest expression of Venetian Baroque ambition—bold, theatrical, and impossible to ignore...

Its origins are tied to crisis rather than confidence. In the early 1630s, a devastating plague swept through Venice, killing nearly a third of the city’s population. In response, the Venetian Republic made a vow: if deliverance came, a church would rise in honor of Our Lady of Good Health. The promise held, and construction followed.

Designed by Baldassare Longhena, then just in his early thirties, the project would define his career. Built on more than 100,000 wooden piles driven into the lagoon floor, La Salute took around fifty years to complete. Longhena devoted most of his life to it and lived just long enough to see the final result in 1681.

Once finished, the basilica's dome quickly became part of Venice’s visual identity. Painters took note. Canaletto and Francesco Guardi returned to it again and again, while artists visiting from abroad—Turner, Monet, and John Singer Sargent among them—used it as a focal point for light, reflection, and atmosphere. The silhouette you see today is not just architecture; it is centuries of artistic attention layered onto stone.

Inside, the basilica continues to surprise. The sacristy doubles as a compact art gallery, featuring works by Titian and Tintoretto. Ceiling paintings such as David and Goliath, Cain and Abel, and Abraham and Isaac unfold overhead, while The Marriage Feast of Cana anchors the space with dramatic intensity. At the high altar, a sculptural group by Josse de Corte delivers pure Baroque theater: the Virgin and Child banish the plague itself, imagined as a defeated old woman retreating from Venice.

Entry to the church is free during opening hours, though the sacristy requires a ticket. From the balcony, views spill back onto the square, and on certain days, a short organ recital follows the service—an unexpected reward for those who linger. Check the schedule in advance, and plan ahead.

Cafés are scarce nearby, so bringing a drink isn’t a bad idea. La Salute rewards patience, timing, and a willingness to look up...