The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (or simply the Salute) is one of the most famous religious buildings in Venice. One thing is certain: its monumental white silhouette, nestled on the banks of the Grand Canal, doesn’t go unnoticed!
Follow the guide!
💡 The Captain’s tip 💡
Want to know more about the history of Venice? Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the city. It’s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!
Looking for a hotel in Venice? Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in Venice? Advice & recommendations
Pou planning your trip to Venice? Be sure to check out Captain Ulysses’ complete article on what to see and do in the city: a Guide to Venice
Brief history of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice
In the summer of 1630, a plague epidemic broke out in the city of Venice. Within two years, nearly a third of the population of the ‘Serenissima’ was decimated.
Helpless, the Senate decided to call upon the protection of the Virgin Mary and implored her mercy by building a monumental basilica in her honour.
The project, which was entrusted to the architect Baldassare Longhena, began in 1631 and was completed 56 years later.
Santa Maria della Salute was consecrated on November 9, 1687, 5 years after the death of the architect Baldassare Longhena, who devoted over 50 years of his life to the construction of the basilica.
Visiting Santa Maria della Salute
The exterior of the Basilica
With its monumental dimensions, Santa Maria della Salute most certainly does not go unnoticed. The basilica is the Venetian monument resting on the largest number of stilts: 1,156,627 in total!
Its imposing façade, with two domes of different sizes, blends classical and baroque influences. The uniqueness of the basilica’s architecture also lies in its orecchioni, the spiral volutes marking the transition between the façade and the domes.
The Salute’s octogonal layout is an explicit allusion to the Virgin’s crown. The exterior of the basilica is adorned with no less than 125 statues, including a statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the great dome, a statue of St. Mark on the small dome, statues of the four evangelists and countless statues of angels.
The interior of the Basilica
The interior of Santa Maria della Salute is organized around a wide central space surrounded by 6 chapels, one of which is home to an exceptional painting by Titian.
The marble pavement, representing an intricate geometric pattern, is a work of art in its own right.
Be sure to have a look at the high altar, which is adorned with a Byzantine icon representing the Virgin Mary and crowned by a statue of a the Madonna and Child saving the city from the plague.
The Sacristy (€4) is home to a collection of sumptuous masterpieces, including Tintoretto’s famous Marriage at Cana.
Numbers and symbolism
Legend has it that the Basilica’s entire architecture is based on the numbers 8, which is a symbol of hope and salvation, and the number 11, which is a symbol of faith.
And these two numbers do seem omnipresent:
- The basilica has 8 sides
- There are 8 columns inside the building
- 16 steps (8x2) lead inside the basilica and 11 lead down to the Grand Canal
- The basilica is 121 feet (11x11) long, 88 feet (8x11) wide and each side of the octagone measures 44 feet (4x11).
Coincidence? What do you think?
Admiring the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute from the Grand Canal
Unsurprisingly, Captain Ulysses – who is a seasoned sailor – insists that the best view on Santa Maria della Salute is onboard a boat, sailing down the Grand Canal.
If you’re interested in navigating the peaceful waters of Venice’s main channel, you can choose between three options:
- Taking the vaporetto (the cheapest option)
- Going on a guided tour on Grand Canal (midscale option)
- A gondola ride on the Venetian canals (the most expensive option … but the most romantic as well!)
Access
Getting to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
To get to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, head south of the Grand Canal, a short walk from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection,on the opposite bank of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.
The nearest vaporetto stop is Salute (vaporetto line 1). If you plan on using public transportation (vaporetto and/or bus) multiple times during your stay in Venice, Captain Ulysses suggests getting a transport pass.
👉 Book your bus + vaporetto pass
Opening times
The basilica is open to visits every day:
- from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Beware, the sacristy’s schedule is slightly different. It is open:
- from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission
Admission to Santa Maria della Salute is free. However, you’ll have to pay €4 per person to access the Sacristy.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin
Every year, on November 21, Venetians commemorate the end of the plague with an important religious ceremony: the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin (Festa della Madonna della Salute).
👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in Venice!
👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all of Captain Ulysses’ suggestions!
🛏️ Accommodation: Venice is a very touristy city and there is no shortage of accommodation, but they are generally rather expensive. If your budget is tight, Captain Ulysses suggests staying in Mestre, out of town. Accommodation is much more affordable and buses reach Venice very regularly.
As for mid-range options, Captain Ulysses highly recommends Hotel Le Isole. This hotel is very very well located a few steps from Saint Mark’s Square and the rooms are spacious and elegant… not to mention that breakfast is very good.
And if you’re looking for a more luxurious option in Venice, then Captain Ulysses most definitely recommends the Londra Palace nestled in a Venetian palace on the Riva degli Schiavoni.
🎟️ Activities: Tickets, guided tours, gondola tours, day-trips… There are plenty of things to do in Venice! But the city is often packed with tourists, which is why Captain Ulysses recommend that you book your activities online and opt for skip-the-line tickets. The Captain suggests having a look at GetYourGuide and Tiqets, which are online platforms specialised in selling tourist activities worldwide.
⛵ Cruises: Venice is synonymous gondola and vaporetto. As an accomplished sailor, Captain Ulysses can only recommend that you embark on a boat ride on the Venetian canals. But beware of scams: some gondoliers tend to take advantage of tourists! That’s why the Captain advises that you book your boat tour on a reputable website here.
🎫 Citypass: If you’re planning on visiting all of Venice’s top sights, Captain Ulysses recommends you to opt for a Citypass, which will give you access to a selection of the city’s must-see sights and monuments. There’s a variety of citypasses to choose from depending on what you’re looking for. Find out more here.
🚐 Transfers:To get to Venice from the airport, you’ll have three options: bus, vaporetto (orange Alilaguna Arancio line), or water taxi. It’s up to you to choose the option that works best for you! Be aware, however, that the historic centre is pedestrian, and buses and taxis are not allowed to operate there.
🚌 Local transport: Get ready to walk! The historic centre is not accessible to buses or cars.
The local kind of public transport is the vaporetto: boats travelling on the water. If you’re planning on using the vaporetto regularly (in Venice or to visit the surrounding islands like Murano and Burano), or if you are staying in Mestre and have to take the bus to Venice everyday, you might want to consider opting for a Public Transport Pass. You can book it here.
✈️ Flights: Venice is a city easily accessible by plane, train and bus. To book your plane tickets, Captain Ulysses recommends Skyscanner, which allows you to compare countless flights to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible. Overnight trains are also a great way to save time (and money) ! For more information, visit Omio.
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