Festa della Salute 2025

Festa della Salute 2025 will take place on Friday, November 21, 2025, in the incredible city of Venice.

Festa della Salute is one of Venice’s most cherished and heartfelt traditions, held each year on November 21st.

This festival, known formally as the Feast of the Madonna della Salute (Our Lady of Health), is a solemn and intimate event where Venetians gather to give thanks for health and seek blessings for continued protection from illness.

Although less well-known than other Venetian celebrations like the Carnival of Venice, Festa della Salute holds a special place in the hearts of locals, offering a moment of reflection, gratitude, and unity.

WHAT IS THE DATE FOR FESTA DELLA SALUTE 2025?

Festa della Salute is a religious feast which takes place every year on November 21 – the day of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 2025, the date of November 21 will fall on a Friday.

WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF FESTA DELLA SALUTE 2025?

Festa della Salute 2025 will take place in Venice, at the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, a magnificent Baroque church built in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The celebration is also held in many places in the Veneto region, but also in Trieste and the area of Istria and Dalmatia, in Croatia.

In fact, the Venetian Republic favored the construction throughout its territory of many sanctuaries dedicated to the Madonna della Salute, which today are still popular destinations for pilgrimages held on November 21.

Venice is the capital of the Veneto region, with 50,000 people living in the historical center of the city, from a total of about 265,000 people in the metropolitan area.

The historical center of Venice is composed of 118 small islands, and is divided into six areas called sestieri: Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Marco, and Castello.

SHORT HISTORY OF FESTA DELLA SALUTE

Festa della Salute 2025

Festa della Madonna della Salute, like many local holidays, commemorates a painful moment in the history of Venice – the bubonic plague epidemic which struck the northern Italy in 1630.

The disease was brought to Venice from Mantua in June 1630, by some ambassadors sent to ask La Serenissima for help.

Although the messengers were quarantined on the island of San Servolo, some people came into contact with the guests and got infected.

The epidemic was virulent, and spread rapidly throughout the city, killing almost 50,000 Venetians in about a year.

In the autumn of 1630, the Venetians organized a three-day procession involving more than 10,000 people, during which Nicolò Contarini, the Doge of Venice, asked the Virgin Mary for help.

On this occasion, the Doge made a solemn vow to raise a church dedicated to the Madonna della Salute, if the city will get rid of the plague.

In April, 1631, the Doge died of the disease, along with part of his family, shortly before the malady was eradicated.

After the pestilence was over, the government decreed to repeat every year the procession in honor of the Madonna della Salute.

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute was built starting with 1631 on a design by the architect Baldassare Longhena.

Due to the sandy soil, which could not support the massive structure, the works took a long time and the church was completed only in 1687, five years after Longhena’s death.

The church was consecrated on November 21, a date which is celebrated today by Festa della Salute.

FESTA DELLA SALUTE TODAY

One of the most distinctive aspects of Festa della Salute is the pilgrimage across the Grand Canal to the basilica, undertaken by Venetians and tourists alike.

In a city with no roads, this pilgrimage requires a temporary bridge to be built specifically for the event, symbolizing the communal nature of the journey.

The Ponte Votivo (Votive Bridge) spans from Campo Santa Maria del Giglio to the area in front of the Basilica della Salute, allowing people to walk directly across the canal in a single, unified procession.

The act of crossing the bridge has both spiritual and cultural significance, symbolizing a transition from the chaos and challenges of daily life to a place of sanctuary, gratitude, and devotion.

It is a reminder of the solidarity and resilience of the Venetian people, who gather not only to honor the memory of those lost but also to seek continued blessings for health and protection.

Basilica della Salute – Festa della Salute 2025

Festa della Madonna della Salute, in its current form, brings joy first to children, the neighborhood of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute being crowded with stalls, where toys, sweets and balloons are sold.

Another cherished tradition associated with Festa della Salute is the enjoyment of castradina, a hearty lamb or mutton stew with roots in the 17th century.

This dish, made with cabbage, spices, and often served with polenta, was a staple during the long quarantine periods, when food supplies were limited.

Even today, castradina is enjoyed by Venetians on November 21 as a reminder of resilience and resourcefulness during difficult times.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR FESTA DELLA SALUTE 2025

Festa della Salute 2025 will begin on Tuesday, November 18, when the votive wooden bridge will be open, in the presence of the Patriarch of Venice, and other civil and military authorities.

On Friday, November 21, Holy Masses will be held in the Basilica della Salute at every hour, between 6.00 am and 8.00 pm.

At 10.00 am, the Mass will be celebrated by the Patriarch of Venice and, in the evening, starting with 10.00 pm, the Celebration of Compline (evening prayer) will take place.

HOW TO GET TO THE BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA DELLA SALUTE

The closest vaporetto stop is Salute, located right in front of the Basilica della Salute, on the waterbus Line 1.

However, on the day of the feast, considering also the opening of the votive bridge, the area will be crowded.

Probably more suitable is to take the vaporetto only to the Accademia stop, located about 650 meters away from the church, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2, and then continue on foot.