Festivals
Events and feasts in Venice
The Sensa Day
Sunday 24th May 2009.
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/turismo/feste/homepage
35° Vogalonga
Sunday 31st May 2009.
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
53rd International Art Exhibition
From 7 June to 22 November 2009.
Fare Mondi // Making Worlds, presented in the renewed Palazzo delle Esposizioni in the Giardini and in the Arsenale, is a single, large exhibition that articulates different themes woven into one whole. It is not divided into sections. Considering collectives, it comprises works by over 90 artists from all over the world and includes many new works and on-site commissions in all disciplines.
www.labiennale.org/it/arte
66th Venice Film Festival
From 2 to 12 September 2009.
The Director of the Cinema section, Marco Müller, continues the work he began in 2004, which has led to a Festival that is increasingly present on the international stage, responsive to emerging film industries and to new talents and at the same time can exploit a solid and constant relationship with the best film production of the world.
www.labiennale.org/it/cinema
The Redentore Feast
Saturday 18th July 2009.
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/turismo/feste/homepage
Historical Regata
Sunday 6th September 2009.
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