Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy Sep 27, 2024

Steeped in history, the Santa Maria della Salute church in Venice is a prime example of Baroque architecture. Constructed between 1631 and 1687, the church was a votive offering for the city"s deliverance from a devastating plague in 1630. Built at the entrance to the Grand Canal, its dome dominates the Venice skyline, as seen in today"s image. Italian architect Baldassare Longhena envisioned this structure at the age of 26, and it became his lifelong project, which was completed after his death. The exterior of the church, with its volutes—spiral, scroll-like ornaments—and statues contrasts with the spacious octagonal interior adorned with works by Renaissance artists like Titian and Tintoretto. Each November, Venice commemorates the church"s significance during the Festa della Madonna della Salute, a cultural celebration that includes festive processions and offering of candles in gratitude for deliverance from the plague.

© Bachir Moukarzel/Amazing Aerial Agency

palette

Today in History

Sep 27, 2023French River, Ontario, Canada
Sep 27, 2024Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 4, 2025Orosei, Sardinia, Italy
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
May 5, 2025Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Apr 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Aug 14, 2025Piz Nair mountain, Switzerland
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Oct 13, 2023Vieste, Apulia, Italy
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Mar 20, 2025Daffodils
Aug 7, 2025Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Boca Grande, Florida, United States
Apr 6, 2024Himeji Castle, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Apr 30, 2025Iguazu Falls seen from Paraná, Brazil
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth
Jan 25, 2026Burns National Heritage Park, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
Apr 3, 2025Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United State
Jun 20, 2024Kokino, North Macedonia
May 31, 2025Knuthöjdsmossen nature reserve, Sweden
Mar 15, 2025The Temple of Saturn, Rome, Italy
Jan 7, 2024Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
Feb 11, 2025Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington, USA
Sep 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Nov 5, 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
May 1, 2024Hawaiian lei flower garlands
Mar 1, 2024Butterflies in a meadow, Germany
Dec 23, 2024Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Jul 11, 2025Tokyo at sunrise, Japan
Sep 26, 2024Blue-throated toucanet, Costa Rica
Aug 23, 2025Greater flamingos, Camargue Regional Nature Park, France
Mar 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico