Chiesa del Voto, Baroque church in central Modena, Italy.

The Chiesa del Voto is a Baroque church on Via Emilia Centro, facing Corso Duomo. Built from 1634 to a design by Cristoforo Malagola, called il Galaverna, it has a dome modelled on the Basilica della Ghiara in Reggio Emilia and a plan inspired by San Salvatore in Bologna. Inside, Ludovico Lana's large altarpiece shows the Madonna with plague saints Roch, Sebastian and Homobonus.

Construction began in 1634 under architect Cristoforo Malagola as a direct response to the plague of 1630 that devastated the city. The building project arose from the community's conviction that a new sacred space could offer protection and healing.

The name comes from the vow made in 1630 by the city of Modena and Duke Francesco I d'Este to build a church if the plague ended; it was dedicated to the Madonna della Ghiara, protector of Reggio Emilia, which the epidemic barely touched. The full name in old texts is Madonna Santissima del voto della Città.

The church sits on Via Emilia Centro and is easily accessible by foot when exploring the old town. Plan your visit during quiet times rather than service hours to fully appreciate the interior artwork and architectural details without disruption.

The apse holds a collection of paintings dedicated to the Madonna alongside representations of protective saints such as Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian. These works by different artists together illustrate the spiritual guardians that the community called upon during times of plague.