Chiesa Madonna della Salute

Initially called Church of Jesus, it was built in 1686 by the Society of Jesus. In 1773 it passed to the olive congregation, which changed to the name of Monteoliveto. In 1883 it served as accommodation for Napoleon's officers. It passed to the city in 1924 and 12 years later they consecrated it to Santa Madona de la Salud. It contains inside a copy of the Byzantine icon venerated in Santa Maria la Mayor, in Rome.

First time I went to Tarantino's, I found a welcoming church

The construction of the church, also known as the Sanctuary of Monteoliveto, begun in 1686 by the Society of Jesus, was completed in 1729. With the suppression of the Jesuits decided by Pope Clement XIV in 1773, the complex was entrusted to the Olivetan Benedictine monks who, however, they were forced to abandon it after the confiscation decreed by Gioacchino Murat in 1813 to be used as accommodation for Napoleon's officers. After a long period of various destinations, with the Jesuits returning in 1924, the church was returned to the Fathers and in 1936 dedicated to the Madonna della Salute and declared a Marian Sanctuary. In the early 1990s, when the Jesuits left Taranto again, the first consolidation and restoration works began which, after alternating phases, ended in November 2018. The façade, punctuated by Ionic pilasters in the first order, Corinthian in the second with two lateral pinnacles, has a portal with a pediment interrupted by the coat of arms of the Dominican order. The interior, illuminated by four large windows with polychrome glass windows, is a Greek cross with five altars. The great dome, supported by four arches resting on mighty pillars at the intersection between nave and transept, is frescoed with a starry sky. The main altar in polychrome marble, positioned in 1752, has an altarpiece consisting of a bronze high-relief from the early 1900s with angels supporting the icon of the Madonna della Salute. The painting, a seventeenth-century work by Antonio Verrio of Lecce, is an oil-on-canvas copy of the famous Byzantine icon of the Salus Populi Romani, venerated in the Roman Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, in which the Virgin holds in her left hand, holding the Child Jesus, a handkerchief symbol of readiness to console and comfort the sick.

What a beautiful initiative to have restored it and returned it to the community!

This place is worth visiting, I recommend it, certain beauties cannot be missed, they contain the history of our city

Certainly a preciousness that all the citizens of Taranto had to give up for a very long time But it would be very nice if the numerous visitors could be welcomed by a figure in charge of telling the story of this beautiful basilica ... And for the umpteenth time, I left my deep suburbs to participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass ... but the site is never updated But a clear and legible sign for everyone ... no ???

The only sanctuary in the historic center of Taranto. Ancient and elegant with the ancient effigy of the virgin in a fascinating place

Reopened to the public and to worship for about two years, after an internal restoration due to Archbishop Filippo Santoro.Among the other attractive features, the environment is provided by excellent acoustics which also allows its use for excellent cultural meetings (concerts and more.)