Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

Hallmark of Venice’s Promise to God

The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer (Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore), one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks, was built as a solemn vow to God during one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history. In 1576, a devastating outbreak of the plague claimed tens of thousands of lives. In response, the Venetian Senate pledged to build a church in honor of Christ the Redeemer if the city was delivered. When the epidemic subsided, the vow was fulfilled with the commissioning of this majestic church on the island of Giudecca.

Each year, the Redentore becomes the center of one of Venice’s most beloved religious traditions: the Festa del Redentore. On the third Sunday of July, a temporary bridge of boats connects the city to the church, and thousands walk across the water in procession to give thanks. 

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St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the most iconic landmarks in Venice. The basilica holds the relics of St. Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark and the patron saint of Venice, which were smuggled from Alexandria to Venice in the 9th century. The church has served as the religious heart of Venice for nearly a millennium—first as the private chapel of the Doge, and now as the city’s official cathedral.

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Images by Didier Descouens, licensed under CC BY‑SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons.