Venice top Events: Redentore July 19th and 20th

Hi guys!

Sorry we disappeared for a while, we all were on holidays!

We’re back today for one of the most important events, perhaps even the most important in the venetian year: la festa del Redentore.

A little history:

Festa (holiday) del Redentore is more than 400 years old and has it roots back in 1577 when the venetian senate decided to build the Redentore church to commemorate the end of a terrible plague that killed one third of the population during only two years.

Each year, during the 3rd weekend of July, this event is commemorated with a weekend of fireworks, boat races (regate), and general party in a super crowded Venice, for an unforgettable event. There’s even a bridge made of boats connecting Zattere (the south part of Venice) to the Giudecca island, so it’s almost like walking on the waters! What else would you need?

So.. how to enjoy this holiday?

Let’s first see the event program:

Saturday July 19th 2014
7pm – Opening of the bridge connecting the Giudecca island (where Redentore church is) to Zattere, the south part of Venice (check map below)
11.30pm – Fireworks show in Canal Grande

Sunday July 20th 2014
Boat Races (Regate)
4pm – regata pupparini 2 oars “young” (pupparini is a boat similar to a small gondola)
4.45pm – regata su pupparini 2 oars “adults”
5.30pm – regata su gondole 2 oars

So.. these are our advices:

Venice is super duper crowded for the fireworks show. It’s a magnificient one and is followed by lots of parties, rivers of alcohol and much more.

If you are staying in Venice for the night you should be fine, but if you need to go back to the mainland (Mestre or elsewhere) you might want to check the time schedule for special buses and trains in the brochure linked below. Just be prepared because they will be incredibly crowded and not at all comfortable. Please be patient and try to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Lots of people, especially venetians enjoy the fireworks show on boats in the San Marco basin, where they have dinner as well.

There are also rentable boats or services that will take you in the middle of the party, but we wouldn’t suggest you to get any of those unless you find an offer for an affordable price. Usually they are quite expensive and you could enjoy the party as well by staying on land and not getting stuck on a boat (cause boats also take lots of time to leave the area after the party is over).

If instead you don’t have or don’t want to go by boat, most people gather at San Marco square, Zattere, Giudecca island and Sant’Elena where locals bring tables and eat and drink their own food while watching the fireworks.

Italian Buddy strongly suggest you to get food and drinks at supermarkets and then go in one of the places written above to blend in the party!

The day after is much more quiet and the “regate” are a very typical event that you could enjoy for free (especially the last one at 5.30). Definitely a must see.

For further information: official brochure (pdf)