A temporary bridge is constructed in Venice each year in July. This tradition goes back to the sixteenth century and is part of the Festa del Redentore, or Festival of the Redeemer. The bridge is built over the Giudecca Canal allowing access to the Church of the Redentore. This takes place on the third Saturday of July when there is a great party with feasting followed by fireworks and religious celebrations held on the Sunday with a gondola regata finishing off the weekend. Carnival, which takes place in February, is an event that is largely recreated for tourists but the Festa del Redentore is still an authentically local event and is very important to the people of Venice. Why not find a holiday rental in Venice and see it all for yourself?
The festival traces its origins to the end of the 1576 plague, when the Doge Alvise Mocenigo promised to build the new church, Il Redentore. Between 1575 and 1577 Venice suffered from a outbreak of the plague and over a third of the population died. The building of the church, dedicated to Christ the Redeemer, was an offering and a plea for divine help. The next year, during July, the city was declared free of disease, and the end of the horror has since been celebrated by the festival each year in July since then.
The religious aspect is important, with masses taking place throughout the weekend but there is also a festive atmosphere.
The religious aspect is important, with masses taking place throughout the weekend but there is also a festive atmosphere.
On Saturday the pontoon bridge is opened to the public and there is a special religious ceremony at the Redentore. At this time, the boats and barges laden with festival-goers make their way to the area to find places nearby.
Families sit at tables in specially-decorated boats and many kinds of vessels are rented and commandeered. Those without boats gather at the sides of the water with some locals reserving spots and setting up tables. Around 11:30pm, the firework display takes place over the water between St. Mark's and the Giudecca.
On Sunday, the Regata del Redentore takes place in which gondolas race against each other. They are brightly-painted and rowed Venetian style, with two standing oarsmen. The main race is a big event, with spectators collecting everywhere nearby to see and a fleet of boats filled with families, friends and spectators follows the gondolas along the far shore as they head up their route along the Giudecca Canal and past the Molino Stucky with them returning to a finish line at the Redentore.
If you're after an ancient and authentic Italian festival full of good food, historical significance, spectacle and fun, this is just the thing to do on your next trip to Veneto.
Families sit at tables in specially-decorated boats and many kinds of vessels are rented and commandeered. Those without boats gather at the sides of the water with some locals reserving spots and setting up tables. Around 11:30pm, the firework display takes place over the water between St. Mark's and the Giudecca.
On Sunday, the Regata del Redentore takes place in which gondolas race against each other. They are brightly-painted and rowed Venetian style, with two standing oarsmen. The main race is a big event, with spectators collecting everywhere nearby to see and a fleet of boats filled with families, friends and spectators follows the gondolas along the far shore as they head up their route along the Giudecca Canal and past the Molino Stucky with them returning to a finish line at the Redentore.
If you're after an ancient and authentic Italian festival full of good food, historical significance, spectacle and fun, this is just the thing to do on your next trip to Veneto.
Photo credits
picture 1: Mcapdevila / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: stu_spivack / CC BY 2.0
picture 1: Mcapdevila / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: stu_spivack / CC BY 2.0