Il Canal Grande View
The Grand Canal comes to an end in front of the church of Santa Maria della Salute, seen from the Campanile in St Mark's Square.
The Grand Canal (Il Canal Grande or the Canalazzo) is the main waterway in Venice, dividing the city in two and crossed by only four bridges in its entire near-four kilometre length.
It is much wider than any of the other canals in Venice – between 30m and 70m across – but less than 5m deep and is lined with a number of palaces and churches.
The number one and number two vaporetto services take both locals and (mainly) tourists along its length, allowing them the chance to admire the sights from the water.
The white stone edifice of Santa Maria della Salute – the Salute – was built in the 17th century by a Venetian government who prayed for an end to plague and had their prayers answered.
The Senate had decreed a church to honour the Virgin Mary would be built and they honoured their promise, commissioning Baldassare Longhena to construct the present building.
It took 50 years to erect and is a masterpiece of baroque architecture, owing much to Andrea Palladio. The octagonal structure, with a great dome rising from the base, contains several altars and works of art by painters such as Titian.
Every year on November 21 – the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin – the church is the home of great celebrations and prayers for health and wellness.
Il Canal Grande View
The Grand Canal comes to an end in front of the church of Santa Maria della Salute, seen from the Campanile in St Mark's Square.
The Grand Canal (Il Canal Grande or the Canalazzo) is the main waterway in Venice, dividing the city in two and crossed by only four bridges in its entire near-four kilometre length.
It is much wider than any of the other canals in Venice – between 30m and 70m across – but less than 5m deep and is lined with a number of palaces and churches.
The number one and number two vaporetto services take both locals and (mainly) tourists along its length, allowing them the chance to admire the sights from the water.
The white stone edifice of Santa Maria della Salute – the Salute – was built in the 17th century by a Venetian government who prayed for an end to plague and had their prayers answered.
The Senate had decreed a church to honour the Virgin Mary would be built and they honoured their promise, commissioning Baldassare Longhena to construct the present building.
It took 50 years to erect and is a masterpiece of baroque architecture, owing much to Andrea Palladio. The octagonal structure, with a great dome rising from the base, contains several altars and works of art by painters such as Titian.
Every year on November 21 – the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin – the church is the home of great celebrations and prayers for health and wellness.