The cabalistic project for the Basilica della Salute in Venice

The Church della Salute in Venice, at the end of the majestic Grand Canal, is certainly one of the most charming buildings of the lagoon city.

It is a well-known fact that it was built as a thanksgiving to the Virgin for ending the terrible plague in 1630, which claimed the lives of about 50,000 Venetians. But perhaps not everyone knows that its construction followed a specific cabalistic and esoteric design. It is not a coincidence that the façade of the church resembles the temple of Physizoa Venus described by the most famous Renaissance esoteric novel, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili.

The architect Baldassarre Longhena who designed this amazing church was Jewish and therefore well acquainted with the secrets of Kabbalah. It was primarily built as an octagonal shape and the number 8 is found everywhere in the building. In the early 90's a German scientist discovered that, considering the measurement of the Venetian foot (35.09 cm), all measurements of the Basilica are linked to the numbers 8 or 11.

According to Kabbalah, the number 8 is the symbol of Salvation and Hope, while 11 is the strength of the Faith. If you add up 8 and 11, you get 19, which according to the Kabbalah is the number of the Sun, for Christians represented precisely by the Virgin Mary.

So you could say that the Basilica della Salute is the link that unites the devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the ancient pagan worship to the Mother-Goddess Venus. But do not say this to one of the priests who celebrate Mass!

Our brilliant tour guide who organizes this section will, on request, arrange private guided tours of Venice. You can learn about other fascinating curiosities, legends, mysteries and much more related to the most famous places in Venice!