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Events taking
place during of 2010
(the actual dates of some events listed below will
be specified as soon as they are confirmed
6 January - (Epiphany)
Regata delle Befane - An ancient Italian
tradition which, in Venice, involves a rowing
competition along the Grand Canal (starting at San
Toma and ending at the Rialto Bridge) between men
dressed as the Italian witch-like character well
known to all Italian children as 'Befana'. The
'Befane' aim to be first to reach the giant stocking
hung especially for the occasion from the Rialto
Bridge.
6-16 February 2010
- (The ten days leading up to Shrove Tuesday)
The Venice Carnival (Carnevale) - A festival
famous throughout the world for its theatricality
and exuberance, its masks and merriment. A time of
grand balls, celebrating in the squares, elaborate
disguises and time-honoured traditions harking all
the way back to the 13th century.
March 2010
(actual date to be confirmed)
The Venice International Boat Show - The 9th
edition, held at the Stazione Marittima.
1 April 2010 -
Maundy Thursday
Benedizione del Fuoco - St. Mark's Basilica.
At around sunset, a torch is lit in the atrium of
the darkened Basilica and a procession takes place
with candles being lit one by one as it makes its
way around. Communion is celebrated.
April 2010
(actual date to be confirmed)
Su e Zo per I ponti - ('up and down the
bridges') All are welcome to take part in this
annual non-competitive walk through Venice, starting
at the Ponte della Paglia, winding along the calli
and campi of the different sestieri (districts) of
the city and finally ending in St Mark's Square.. A
fun way of getting to know the city, there are two
routes - one of around 5 miles crossing 45 bridges
and a shorter one of about 3.5 miles crossing 32
bridges.
25th of April.
St Mark's Day / Festa del Bocolo - A feast in
honour of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice. On
this day Venetian men give their loved ones a single
red rose known as a "Bocolo".
16 May 2010 -
(The first Sunday after Ascension Day - 40 days
after the Easter) Festa e Regata della Sensa
- The symbolic marriage of Venice to the sea. The
Mayor of Venice, civic dignitaries and religious and
military representatives leave St Mark's Square and
sail, accompanied by boats and rowers in historic
costume, to the Port of S. Nicolò where they
ritually throw a ring into the ocean. A laurel
wreath is also laid in memory of those lost at sea.
The procession disembarks at the Church of San
Nicolò del Lido, where a solemn religious ceremony
takes place. A Sensa market takes place in the
grounds of the church and in the afternoon a gondola
regatta ends the day's festivities.
May 2010 (actual
date to be confirmed)
Vogalonga - A spectacular event attracting
worldwide interest from spectators and participants
alike.
The vogalonga is a strenuous but friendly
rowing race from St Mark's Basin to the island of Burano returning via the Cannaregio Canal and Grand
Canal before finally ending at the Punta Della
Dogana. All kinds of rowing boats are involved, many
from overseas. Started in 1975 by a group of rowing
enthusiasts, the event is a visual feast with 1550
boats and 5800 participants taking part in 2007.
Last week of June
Festa di San Pietro in Castello - traditional
festivities celebrated in this ancient parish found
to the east of the city.
17-18 July 2010
- (Third Weekend in July)
Festa del Redentore - One of the Venetians'
most loved events which came into being as a feast
to give thanks for the end of the plague of 1575. A
pontoon bridge is built every year from the Zattere
in Dorsoduro over to the Church of the Redentore on
the island of Giudecca. At sunset on the Saturday a
large number of decorated boats begin congregating
in St Mark's Basin and people line the
lantern-strung waterfronts to party, eat traditional
food and to wait for the fireworks to begin (a
breathtaking spectacle which begins at 11.30pm and
lasts until after midnight). A wonderfully
atmospheric evening which is followed on the Sunday
with church services and a regatta on the Giudecca
Canal.
5 September 2010 -
(the first Sunday in September)
Regata Storica - This spectacularly colourful
Venetian event, is a re-evocation of the welcome
given to Caterina Cornaro, wife of the King of
Cyprus, in 1489 after she renounced her throne in
favour of Venice. There is a procession of 16th
century style boats, dozens of multi-coloured and
decorated craft with people in period costume and
numerous races, all watched and cheered on by crowds
of supporters lining the banks of the Grand Canal.
24 October 2010
Venice Marathon - This covers a distance of 26
miles, starts in the small country town of Stra to
the west of Venice and proceeds into Venice, passing
the Zattere, St Mark’s Square and the Palazzo Ducale
before finally finishing on the Riva Sette Martiri,
the much- photographed embankment facing the lagoon
in the Castello area of the city.
21st of November
Festa della Salute - One of the most moving and best
loved of all Venetian events. Every year on the 21st
of November, Venetians make a pilgrimage to the
plague church of Santa Maria Della Salute (St. Mary
of Health) to pray to the Virgin Mary and to light
candles. Gondoliers visit bringing their oars to be
blessed. A pontoon bridge is built across the Grand
Canal from Santa Maria del Giglio to the Salute and
the huge doors of the church are opened to the city
and its visitors. |
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