One of the most important celebrations which take place in Venice is the Festa della Salute, which attracts every year many people, both from Venice and from other parts of Italy and the world, thanks to the religious importance that it has, but also because it represents a good chance to experience Venice traditions and history.

The origin of the celebration dates back to the XVII century; in the years 1630-1631 the city was shaken by a terrible plague, which exterminated most people: in Venice almost 47,000 people died, not to mention the 95,000 people who died in the Dogado. The plague, which arrived in Venice through a group of people who came from Mantua to ask for help just because the plague in their city had stopped every activities, spread quickly in the city. Although the government tried to solve the problem or at least to limit its consequences, taking the necessary health precautions (disinfecting of the city, setting up of the quarantine hospitals and burying the infected dead under lime), the plague did not stop, and Venice was becoming a weak and static city, also as far as its economy was concerned, and there were trials against suspected plague-spreaders.

The only solution seemed to be that of asking for the Virgin Mary's divine intercession: survivors (around 10,000 people), took part in a procession and walked around San Marco Square for three days and three nights holding votive candles and statues. At the end of the procession, on the 22nd October 1630 the Doge Nicoletto Contarini made a public vow in which he promised that the city of Venice would erect a church called the Salute, in order to obtain the Virgin Mary's divine help to stop the plague. The believers? prayers were answered, and in November 1631 the plague could be considered defeated. The architect Baldassare Longhena was in charge of the erection of the church, and he realized a huge building in order to highlight Virgin Mary's power, as well as Venice grandiosity. The church is characterised by a particular circle plan which symbolizes Mary's crown and her virginity. The Salute church was built on Punta della Dogana.

From that day until now, every year on the 21st November (the day in which the church was consecrated) the inhabitants of Venice recall those terrible years and Virgin Mary's help, and the feast of the Salute can be considered as a chance to thank Mary once again. And indeed many people every year go to the Salute church to light a votive candle for the Virgin, and in order to make the procession fluent every year a temporary bridge (the Votive Bridge) is erected on boats. The bridge on the Canal Grande connects San Mois? and Santa Maria del Giglio to the Basilica del Longhena, and this part of the city gains a new semblance.

However, the feast in not only a religious event, and many people participate in the procession above all because they wish to recall ancient traditions. Children, in particular, enjoy this feast thanks to the stalls that sell sweets and balloons and that can be found near the church. During the Feast of the Salute visitors have also the possibility to eat a tasty dish which is traditionally prepared in this day: the castradina, a mutton-based dish that recalls what Venetians used to eat during the plague period (the Dalmatian were the only ones who provided Venice people with food, but most of the times they offered mutton meat, since their region was rich with these animals).

Both for its religious origin and for its folkloristic connotation, the feast of the Salute attracts every year such a huge number of visitors that pedestrian one ways are made necessary starting from the Accademia Bridge.

Venice is a beautiful city, rich in history, art and culture. In all of its churches you can find something wonderful to see, and the Salute church is one of the most famous and majestic buildings of the city. The feast that takes place on the 21st November is a great chance to admire it in this particular contest, and to experience an event which is very important for Venetians. Venice can be very expensive and overcrowded, but if you book in advance a cheap hotel you will not have any problems.

Tickets: free event

Date: 21st November 2008

Location: Chiesa della Salute, Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy