Venice - Santa Maria della Salute

Santa Maria della Salute (The Church of our Lady) depicts Mary as "Ruler of the Sea" (Capitana del Mar); the statue of the Virgin on the top of the dome carries the staff of command of a Venetian Admiral of the Fleet.

The broad flight of steps leading up to the church and its two huge domes not only gives it an astounding breadth but also enhances the whole cityscape. Seen from the sea (the true "view of Venice") Santa Maria della Salute perfectly offsets the Basilica di San Marco, the Palazzo Ducale and the Campanile. In the last few decades it has been severely damaged by pollution, as has almost the whole city, but in recent years has been restored with money provided by the French Save Venice Fund.

To the left of the church is the Seminario Patriarcale which houses the Manfredinian Picture Gallery.

The interior is rather austere. Of the 120 sculptures the group on the High Altar by Juste Le Court is probably the most important: the Madonna complying with the fervent request of Venezia and driving out the plague. The faithful commemorate the end of the plague and the founding of the church by holding a solemn service and procession every year on November 21st, The Feast of the Salvation.

The paintings in The Great Sacristy are also interesting: Tintoretto's "The Wedding at Cana" (long wall) and Titian's ceiling-paintings "Cain and Abel", "The Sacrifice of Abraham" and "David and Goliath (1542-44).