Venice. View of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

The beautiful cathedral, toward which the webcam at the facade of the Venetian hotel, Gritti Palace, is aimed, has a sad story. It was built at the end of the plague epidemic, which took a hundred thousand people in the 17th century.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute was built over half a century. From the moment of its consecration in 1681 to this day, a special service is held there annually to commemorate a good riddance of the plague. On this day, the majestic cathedral and the Doge’s Palace are joined by a pontoon bridge.