Across the Giudecca Canal from central Venice, the Church of the Redeemer, or Il Redentore, is one of Andrea Palladio’s finest religious buildings. Its white classical façade rises above a broad flight of steps, with a dome and slender bell towers behind it. Inside, the restrained proportions and generous light offer a quieter experience than many of Venice’s more lavish churches.
The church was commissioned after the devastating plague of 1575–77, when the Venetian Senate vowed to build a church of thanksgiving for deliverance. That promise is still honoured during the Festa del Redentore on the third weekend of July, when a temporary bridge crosses the canal for pilgrims and fireworks light up the lagoon. The church also holds paintings associated with Veronese, Tintoretto and the Bassano family.
Take a vaporetto to the Redentore stop, close to the church, and leave time for a walk along the Giudecca waterfront. Check opening hours and admission charges before setting out, as schedules can change. This remains a place of worship, so dress respectfully and cover shoulders and knees.