Every year in Venice, Madonna della Salute is celebrated on 21 November. The Basilica Madonna della Salute was built at the end of the plague in 1630, after Doge Nicolò Contarini had made a solemn vow to build a church to thank the Madonna if the pestilence ended.
The basilica is one of the most important landmarks in Venice. Built by architect Baldassarre Longhena, it is decorated externally and internally with about 150 statues, and the central dome is surmounted by a statue of the Madonna as ‘Capitana da Mar’.
In commemoration of this event, Venetian citizens walk on the votive bridge built for the occasion and parade in front of the basilica altar with candles and tapers as a sign of devotion and thanksgiving.
The typical dish of this festival is castradina, a traditional Venetian dish that has been prepared since the 17th century on the occasion of the feast of the Madonna della Salute.
This dish is based on salted, smoked and seasoned leg of mutton, which is then used to prepare a soup together with savoy cabbage leaves, onions and wine.
