大运河和安康圣母教堂的鸟瞰图，威尼斯，意大利 Aerial view of the Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy (© Bachir Moukarzel/Amazing Aerial Agency)

大运河和安康圣母教堂的鸟瞰图，威尼斯，意大利 Aerial view of the Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy (© Bachir Moukarzel/Amazing Aerial Agency)

在漂浮的城市之上 Above the floating city

安康圣母教堂，威尼斯，意大利

威尼斯的安康圣母教堂历史悠久，是巴洛克建筑风格的典范。这座教堂建于1631年至1687年，是为了纪念1630年威尼斯从一场毁灭性瘟疫中解脱出来。教堂建在大运河的入口处，其圆顶在威尼斯的天际线上占据着主导地位，正如今天的图片所示。意大利建筑师巴尔达萨雷·隆盖纳在26岁时就构思了这座建筑，它成为了隆盖纳毕生的事业，并在他去世后完工。教堂外部的涡卷状装饰和雕像与宽敞的八角形内部形成鲜明对比，内部装饰着文艺复兴时期艺术家提香和丁托列托的作品。每年11月，威尼斯都会在圣母节期间纪念这座教堂的重要意义，这是一场文化庆祝活动，内容包括节日游行和献蜡烛等，以感谢圣母将人类从瘟疫中解救出来。

Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

The Santa Maria della Salute church in Venice is steeped in history. As a plague devastated the city in 1630, its leader, Doge Nicolò Contarini, vowed to build a majestic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary if the city was spared. In 1631 the epidemic ended, and construction began. The church, built in the Baroque style, was completed around 50 years later, a lifelong project for architect Baldassare Longhena.

Built at the entrance to the Grand Canal, its dome dominates the Venice skyline. 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.