The Basilica of St. Mary, also known as "Salute," is located on the lagoon in Venice. The church was built in response to the plague attack in 1629 that killed almost a third of the Venetian population. A competition was held to select who would design the church: the winner was Baldassare Longhena. The Salute is an octagonal building that built on a platform made of 100,000 wooden piles. This Baroque church is built in Istrian stone and marmorino (brick covered in marble dust).