Festivals
Events and feasts in Venice
The Sensa Day
15-16 May 2010
This feast is celebrated every year in May, on the sunday after the Ascension day, to commemorate two Venician historical victories when the Pope confirmed Venecian dominion on the sea with the famous annual “Nuptial”. To celebrate this symbolic marriage the Doge (today the mayor) on the Bucintoro boat goes to Sant’Elena Island in Castle district, where the Bishop blesses him, and, when he arrives at the Porto’s entrance, he throws a golden ring in the sea.The same day in front of Saint Mark’s square will take place the Regata della Sensa. This gondolas regatta celebrates the Ascension feast and it’is the beginning of the Regata Season in Venice.
www.comune.venezia.it
35° Vogalonga
May 2010
This celebration, born in the ‘90 thanks to some Venicians to remember the problem of waves’ movement, it’s a rowing run to the discovery of the lagoon and its hidden landscapes. It’s a 30 Km competition between different kind and shapes of boats, open to Venetians and foreigners. It starts near San Marco in front of Ducale Palace, going on between the islands of the lagoon and back in Venice through Cannareggio’s Rio.
www.vogalonga.it
The Redentore Feast
17 July 2010
The Redentore feast it’s one of the most traditional festivities in Venice and it’s celebrated every year on the third saturday of July, to remember the end of the plague in the XIV century. During this feast in Giudecca is built a votive bridge of boats that connects the island to the city, while people eats traditional venetian dishes under the stars on the fondamenta. Near San Marco and along Giudecca’s channel many illuminated boats gather all together, eating and waiting for the firework show at midnight. Then some boats go to Lido to wait for new dawn. The weekend ends with a gondola regatta and religious celebrations.
www.comune.venezia.it
Historical Regata
5 September 2010
The historical Regata takes place every year, the first sunday of september, is one of the most spectacular, picturesque and moving events of Venetian life, capable of both charming the tourists and exciting the venetians. It is celebrate to commemorate the welcome given to Caterina Cornaro, wife of the King of Cyprus, in 1489 after she renounced her throne in favour of Venice. It is a procession of 16th century style boats, with the famous Bucintoro, the boat representing the Serenissima, at its head. Then comes the competition. The spectators participate with shouts of encouragement during the sporting events.
www.culturaspettacolovenezia.it