On Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st July in Venice there will be, as usual for centuries, the historic Redentore Feast, the feast of tradition illuminating St. Mark’s Basin.
Among the most deeply felt celebrations by the Venetians, it is also participated by tourists who are in the lagoon city and those coming from the nearby towns to take part to an event in which the religious aspect mixes with the spectacular one. In fact, Saturday’s fireworks last 45 minutes without interruptions and are considered among the most beautiful of the world; on this occasion, the whole lagoon is populated by hundreds and hundreds boats full of people having fun and with the turned- up noses.
This is the program:
Saturday, 20th July:
- 7 pm – opening of the Thanksgiving Bridge connecting the Zattere (area of Venice situated in the southern part of the archipelago) with the Church of the Redentore on the Giudecca Island.
- 30 pm – Fireworks in St. Mark Basin.
Sunday, 21st July:
- From 4 pm along the Giudecca Canal
- 4 pm – children’s twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta (typical boats of the Venice Lagoon)
- 45 pm – twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta
- 30 pm – twin-oared gondola regatta
- 7 pm – votive Holy Mass at the Church that gives the name to the Feast.
But that’s not all: on Saturday there will be numerous collateral events both in the city, along the squares and the campielli, and in the neighboring towns with concerts, parties and sporting events (for example in Asseggiano, Favaro Veneto, Malcontenta, Pellestrina).
The Redentore Feast originated in July 1577 at the end of a serious pestilence that struck the lagoon and that lasted almost 2 years. People then decided to celebrate, on an annual basis, the liberation from the epidemic by setting up a thanksgiving bridge in connection with the Basilica del Redentore. Built on the previous year, the Church had to represent an ex voto to free the population from this tragic pandemic.
For those who are in Bibione during this period, there are various ways to reach Venice even only for the day, to attend a centuries-old celebration, which keeps up to the present day its entire splendor.