The Salute procession, each year in mid-November, is one of the processions instituted in thanksgiving for the deliverance of Venice from a plague. From its beginning in 1632 until after the turn of the century, it consisted of a procession over a bridge of boats placed over the Grand Canal, ending up at the church of La Salute, which was built as part of the thanksgiving effort. In later years, the bridge of planks over flat boats has been replaced by a giant wooden folding bridge that is anchored on dredging barges set out in the Grand Canal. It is assembled a few days before the procession, and then disassembled shortly thereafter.

The procession, at least in modern times, is a fairly do-it-yourself, self-paced operation. It is not so much a true procession as it is a number of people following a processional route. There is no official starting time. You cross the bridge, and follow whoever's in front of you. When you get to the campo in front of the church, you can buy long candles (or not). Inside the church, several masses are going on simultaneously; judging from a coversation I overheard between two acolytes, the masses run continuously, and the priests and acolytes serve in shifts, with breaks for meals. At the end of a mass, you may go to the altar with your candle, which is accepted by a priest, blessed, and placed, burning, with other candles at the altar.

The church is specially decorated for the occasion. The best altar hangings are brought out. Further, the central supporting columns in the church are wrapped in brocade coverings, providing an extra festive touch.

1. Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo
This campo is the starting point for the procession. The church of Santa Maria Zobenigo is shown at left, under an elaborate wooden restoration covering.

2. Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo
The campo is a long narrow one; here we are looking toward the Grand Canal. The procession moves in this direction.

3. Salute Bridge
At the intersection of the campo and the Grand Canal, the bridge is erected.

4. Salute Bridge and La Salute church
View east from the bridge across the Grand Canal. The church of La Salute was designed by Baldassare Longhena, and has a modified central plan similar to that of San Vitale in Ravenna. You may also see the less elaborate form of restoration covering, a sort of gray cloth, at the right.

5. Salute Bridge
Looking south, toward the Dorsoduro bank of the Grand Canal.

6. Salute Bridge
The bridge is anchored to dredging barges.

7. Sottoportego de l'Abazia
After the procession leaves the bridge, it turns east (left). Shortly thereafter, this sottoportego looms up; you can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, where there is a bridge that crosses the Rio della Salute to the campiello in front of the church, next to the Grand Canal.

8. Salute Bridge
Looking northwest from the Salute vaporetto stop. It's easy to see the barges from here.

9. Salute Bridge
Looking southeast from a gondolier's pier.

10. Salute Bridge
Another view from the gondolier's pier.