Venice is a city built on water and so the world of venetian rowing is very important for the Venetians. We suggest you to take a look at the racing calendar and see if there is a rowing race or parade you can catch while you are here. Art, in all its forms, is of great importance for Venice. Everywhere you will find art galleries, exhibitions, and classical concerts. If you have time, visit the beautiful La Fenice theatre for a show. Here are a selection of truly unmissable Venice events.
Redentore Venice: the prince of Venice events
The feast of the Redentore in Venice (Redeemer festival) is surely the highlight of Venice’s event calendar. Since 1577, it is celebrated on the third Sunday of July to commemorate the liberation of the city from a terrible plague that decimated the population by about 50,000 people (a third of it).
From five centuries, each year is build a long temporary bridge to cross the Giudecca canal and reach the Redeemer church, built on the island of Giudecca. The must of thsis two days celebration is the spectacular fireworks display over the water which is one of the longest shows in the world!
Festa della Sensa Venice
The Feast of the Sensa is celebrated on the day of the Ascension with a naval procession: hundreds of rowing boats run along the Grand Canal until they reach the Sant’Andrea fort, to participate in the blessing of the bishop. Even today this remains an essential Venice event: all the many rowing associations take part with their different costumes and the Grand Canal becomes a riot of colour!
Historical Regatta: Regata Storica Venice
The Historical Regatta consists of two parts.
- The Historical Court: it recalls the return to Venice of the Cyprus Queen Caterina Corner in 1489; the Grand Canal is crossed by a parade of beautiful boats reconstructed in fifteenth century style with all the participants in historical costume!
- Sports competition: a real competition in which the best rowers of Venice challenge each other, divided into 6 specialties; winning this regatta is considered to be of great prestige and the racers enjoy great popularity!
La Vogalonga: a marathon inside the Venice lagoon
The Venice Vogalonga is a non-competitive regatta in which only rowing boats can participate: traditional venetian boats like sandoli, gondolas, carlines, mascharete, but also international boats like kayaks, dragon boats and canoes.
Thousands of professional and amateur rowers join it from all over the world rowing together for 32 km.
The Biennale of Venice
The Biennale di Venezia, is one of the most important art and architectural events in the world. The programming of the Foundation embraces artistic events ranging from visual arts to theatre and music.
- International Exhibition of Visual Arts (every two years from May to November)
- International Architecture Exhibition (alternating with art)
- International Film Festival (late August – early September)
- International Festival of Contemporary Dance (late June)
- International Theater Festival (late July – early August)
- International Festival of Contemporary Music (late September – early October)
- Biennale College, training courses for young artists
Venice exhibitions
There are many prestigious temporary and permanent art exhibitions. In addition to the network of civic museums, there is the private Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Chorus circuit, the Querini Stampalia Foundation and the Academy Galleries, to name only some of them. In recent years Mestre, Venice mainland,has raised cultural offerings with temporary exhibitions in the Centro Culturale Candiani and the “Museo del Novecento M9”, the first Italian multimedia museum.
Venice Carnival
The Venice Carnival is of course the most famous Venice events. We have dedicated a whole section to this very special event!
Venice New Year
New Year in Venice concludes our selection of the best events in venice. The celebrations end around midnight with a spectacular fireworks display in the St Mark basin. As it is cold in December, Venetians prefer to stay inside among panettone, prosecco and music, at friends’ houses or even better in a historic palace dancing until morning!
New Year in Venice is a truly “international” event. If you want to add a little more venetian magic in this special night, we offer you a night cruise in the lagoon up to San Marco!
Experiences and activities to enjoy in Venice
- Pet Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Accessible with public transport
- Child Friendly
- Accessible with public transport
- Child Friendly
- Sustainable
- Accessible with public transport
- Child Friendly
- Accessible with public transport
- Child Friendly
- Private Experience
- Sustainable
- Child Friendly
- Private Experience
- Accessible to persons with reduced mobility
- Accessible with public transport
- Private Experience
- Child Friendly
- Sustainable
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Want to find out more about all the activities and dates not to be missed in Venice? Here are some more details.