Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute

The construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute began in 1631 after Venice was rid of the plague. The author of the project of the cathedral was the Italian architect Longhena Balthazar. The construction of the cathedral continued for half a century. The cathedral was consecrated after the death of the architect. For the foundation of the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute used more than one million wooden beams.

The cathedral is built in the form of a regular octahedron. He's being crowned by a dome-half. The main dome of the cathedral is located on a drum with fifteen hard ribs. There are two windows in each of them. The entrance to the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute is made in the form of a triumphal arch. On its facade are sculptures of the Virgin Mary and John the Forerunner, the archangel Michael, who beats Satan.

The central altar in the cathedral is decorated with statues that have a common theme: ridding the city of the plague thanks to the Virgin Mary. In the center of the altar is the revered icon Madonna de Salute.