The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, or Madonna della Salute (celebrated every November 21st), or simply La Salute, is a Baroque building located in Venice, built in the 17th century to thank the Virgin Mary for ending the plague epidemic of 1630. It is distinguished by its imposing dome, its white stone façade, and its octagonal plan. Its position at the southern end of the Grand Canal makes it a major architectural symbol of Venice. In the immediate vicinity is the former customs house, which now houses a museum of modern art and gave its name to the eastern end of the Dorsoduro district, the Punta della Doganna, whose quays are lapped by the waters of the St. Mark's Basin.