Feast of Salute in Venice
The popular Venetian sentiment!
The Feast of Salute (Health) in Venice is an event which commemorates each year to the inhabitants of Venice thanksgiving that need to Madonna of Salute for having saved by the terrible plague of 1630. On November 21 each year organize fact processions and made solemn in the Church of Santa Maria della Salute built in honor of Virgin its November 21 of many centuries ago by Baldassarre Longhena, who designed a project to respondent needs of magnificence and magnitude required by Serenissima to honour the one who intercedes health town. The Church of Madonna della Salute, all'incrociarsi between Grand Canal and basin of San Marco, home on this day the arrival of a procession led by Patriarch of Venice, which started from San Marco, reaches its destination by taking advantage of a provisional bridge on the Grand Canal, along well-sixty-two metres, colleague Campo Santa Maria del Giglio with Calle San Gregorio.
Is tradition and act of faith turn a candle in church as a sign of gratitude for the grace received the first centuries and how request for protection of their health and their loved ones, this monument outside the numerous stalls await eager to sell candles in every shape the devotees Venetians. To accompany a sea of candles balloons, toys, pancakes and sweets of all kinds color the square. In this day stands out among the many delicacies the Venetian "Castradina" dish taste decided based on mutton formerly offered by the Venetians for Dalmatian supply during the plague. Is so that the tribute to the loyalty people friend translates in the consecration of this recipe, November 21 has become typical of the Feast of Salute.
The plague described by Manzoni in "Promessi Sposi" landed punctual in 1630 also in Venice, carrying away with it fifty thousand souls just fifty years away from previous year. But by the grace received by the Redeemer half century the first citizens who had to learn: and behold rise another big basilica all'incrociarsi between Grand Canal and basin of San Marco, the Madonna Della Salute.
And that health is not soon to remove from the Venetians incurable disease, reinforcing a faith devoted to a Virgin so merciful ensures an annual procession, a provisional bridge on boats in order to achieve its Basilica, and hundreds of candles lit in his honor. And this is the Madonna Della Salute that Venetians celebrate each November 21. A Madonna whose crown, a symbol of virginity, takes shape in the perimeter round the imposing structure, the first ever built.
Do not forget, however, that in addition to religiosity Venetians enjoyed for centuries of good business, famous attitude enough to understand the multitude of stalls arrancate outside the famous circular the same November 21. The scenery that surrounds the Basilica not omit anything: inevitable candles diversified you switch to helium balloons, to toys, sweets, reconfirming the habit of incorreggibile Venetians to combine profit and popular sentiments!
