Also this feast, like that of the Redentore, is reminiscent of a terrible plague that struck the city of Venice, this time in the period 1630-31, and the subsequent vow by the Doge to obtain the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The construction of the church, which is located on the Punta della Dogana, was given after a competition to Baldassarre Longhena, who had designed a church “in the form of a crown to be dedicated to the Virgin,” and was finished when the patriarch blessed her in 1687.
Every November 21 is celebrated then the Feast of Our Lady of Health, in which the Venetians across a bridge of boats that start from St. Mark and take to the church, buy some candles and go in procession into the church behind the high altar to pray in front of the Madonna . Traditionally, after being to pray, you can stroll among the stalls selling sweets and pancakes! Along with the Festa del Redentore, is still one of the most popular festivals feeling strongly by Venetian; during this period, traditionally, we eat the “castradina”, a dish made of mutton.