EVENTS IN VENICE
Carnival
According to the most reliable tradition, the term Carnevale comes from the latin “carnem levare” (give up meat), referring to medieval tradition of celebrating a feast on the night before Ash Wednesday following a long period of amusement, before Lent. The first traces of Carnival date back to the XII century. However, it is only from the mid 1400 to the end of 1500 that the celebrations began to be officially regulated. Every Venetian, from the most humbles to the Doge and the authorities attended the wealth of shows: fireworks, human pyramids, challenges between Castellani (inhabitants of Sestiere Castello, San Marco and Dorsoduro) and Nicolotti (Sestiere San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio), the Ballo della Moresca, staging the fight between Christians and Moorish and the bull’s head cut in the court of Palazzo Ducale. One of these “games” survives to date: the “dove’s flight”. Originally, it was the attempt made by a Turkish prisoner to walk on a rope, from the campanile to the gallery of Palazzo Ducale, in order to hand over a present to the Doge and be granted pardon. With time, this bloody practice was replaced initially by a bridled “angel” and then by a dove, symbol of renewed peace. Official Carnival ended in 1797, after the Campoformido Treaty, when France ceded Venice to Austria, which banned many traditions. Slowly, all sumptuous feasts disappeared and after Venice’s annexation to the Kingdom of Italy no clear historical traces are recorded.
Starting from the 1970s, the Venice Carnival acquired again its importance as a cultural event famous all over the world. Today, the institutions in cooperation with other bodies, promote the carnival events and happenings that take place in the ten days before Ash Wednesday.
Redentore
The third Sunday of July, Venice celebrates one of the most felt festivities: Redentore, in memory of a terrible plague that between 1555 and 1577 scourged the Serenissima, killing nearly one third of its population (over 50,000 people). At the time, plagues were considered a sort of divine punishment. On September 21, 1576, the Venetian Senate approved Doge Alvise Mocenigo proposal to make a solemn vow and build a Temple to invoke the city’s salvation. The Cristo Redentore Church, planned by Andrea Palladio, was built on the Giudecca island. The first stone was laid on May 3, 1577. The third Sunday of July of the same year, Doge Sebastiano Venier finally declared the Serenissima free from infection. A wooden church was temporarily built to celebrate the end of the plague. A pontoon bridge was connected Giudecca to the main island and allowed the passage of the procession led by the Doge. Redentore Church was finished and consecrated in 1592. The celebrations start on Saturday night with the fascinating fireworks in Bacino San Marco. The entire lagoon, between Venice and Lido, is crowded with boats dressed with decorations and lights, loaded with both Venetians and tourists who celebrate eating typical Venetian dishes and singing. On Sunday, in addition to the various events, scattered across the campi, you can attend the procession and solemn Mass headed by the Patriarch and the Regata delle Gondole to close the celebrations.
Regata Storica
Of the over 120 yearly regattas, Regata Storica – on the first Sunday of September – is the most spectacular. Initiated as a recollection of the welcoming granted in 1489 to Caterina Cornaro, the King of Cyprus’ wife, who gave up the throne in favour of Venice. Regata Storica is an important venue that gathers and unites citizens and thrills tourists. All together, thronged along the Grand Canal and the Bacino San Marco, they watch the boats and support enthusiastically the oar’s champions.
The Regata day, after the characteristic procession of XVI century boats headed by the magnificent Doge’s Bucintoro, various races on peculiar boats take place: Gondolini (with two male rowers, lighter and faster than gondolas, were created in 1825 and used exclusively for Regata Storica), Caorline (with six rowers, once used for work purposes, male crew), Mascarete (similar to Sandalo, with two rowers, six-metres long, female crew), and finally Pupparini (for private purposes at the times of Serenissima, very young crew).
Moreover, Regata Storica represents a good means to safeguard and spread the voga alla veneta tradition as well as a privileged vehicle to protect the environment and learn the city’s marine traditions.
Santa Maria della Salute
In 1630 Venice was struck by the last outbreak of plague and Venetians took a vow to the Virgin to be set free from the epidemic. In 1631, after the end of the plague, Serenissima honoured its vow by entrusting to Baldassare Longhena the planning of a temple near the custom’s house. Dedicated to Madonna della Salute (Virgin of Health), the octagonal plant church, rich in prospect games houses in its interior the beautiful Byzantine icon: the Black Virgin. Every year, on November 21st Venetians walk on procession to the church. This celebration is still deeply felt by local people.
The International Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is among the most important film festivals in the world. It is held every year from the end of August to the beginning of September in the fashionable setting of Lido di Venezia. It started in 1932, on the terrace of Excelsior Hotel. Since its first edition, renowned people, such as Louis Lumière – as member of the honour committee – and René Clair, as director of a film in competition, participated to this festival. Since then, the most celebrated and illustrious artists of the world cinema, have been parading in front of the historic Palazzo overlooking the sea, on Lungomare Marconi. The golden lion award, “Leone d’Oro” is considered by critics one of the most prestigious prizes, of the same weight as those of Cannes and Berlin, the other two main European film festivals.
La Biennale
La Biennale was set up in 1895 with the aim of promoting within, the city, artistic activity and the related market. Since 1907, the construction of its buildings, near Padiglione Italia and in Sestiere Castello, was entrusted to famous engineers and architects such as Carlo Scarpa and Alvar Aalto. In 1930, the first “Festival of Contemporary Music” was held, followed, two years later in 1932, by the opening of the famous International Film Festival. In 1934, the Biennale Theatre opened. Finally, in 1948, La Biennale open its doors to contemporary art and to XX century-vanguards. La Biennale di Venezia has become a Foundation and permanent exhibition centre of cultural events among the most important in the world. By organizing and promoting international events in contemporary arts, according to a unique multi-disciplines model. In addition to the International Film Festival (once a year), the International Art Exhibition and the International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale continues the great tradition of music and theatre festivals, with the addition of the Dance Festival in the past few years. A really large audience (320,000 visitors each year) visits the various branches scattered around Giardini di Castello (visual arts and architecture), Palazzo del Cinema and Palazzo del Casinò, in Lido (cinema), Arsenale (visual arts and architecture), Teatro alle Tese and Teatro Piccolo Arsenale (dance, music, theatre).