The Festa della Salute is an ancient, traditional Venetian festival that every year on November 21 is celebrated. It is a religious and cultural event that is deeply rooted in the history of Venice.
The Plague of 1630
The Festa della Salute dates back to 1630. At that time, a devastating plague was ravaging the city. The Venetian Republic vowed to build a church in honor of the Virgin Mary if the plague were to end.
When the plague finally subsided, the magnificent Baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute was built—at the tip of Dorsoduro, near the Punta della Dogana.
Processions
Many Venetians cross a pontoon bridge over the Grand Canal—built especially for this day—to make their pilgrimage to the church.
Candle Offering
Believers light candles and pray for good health or give thanks for a recovery.
Mass and Blessings
Religious ceremonies take place in and around the church.
Local Festival:
Unlike Carnival, the Festa della Salute is not a tourist spectacle, but a deeply rooted local festival.
For Venetians, the Festa della Salute is an act of gratitude and a time for spiritual reflection—similar to the harvest festival in other cultures, but with a focus on health and survival after a crisis.