JULY 20 – 21, 2013
To give thanks for the end of the 1576 plague, the Doge Alvise Mocenigo promised to build the new church Il Redentore, which can be accessed during the festival via a 330 meter pontoon bridge.
The religious aspect of the festival is important, with masses taking place across the weekend yet there is a unique festival atmosphere as boats and gondolas gather on the lagoon. Venetians decorate their boats and wooden terraces with balloons and lanterns and head out at dusk to Saint Mark’s Bay and the Giudecca Canal. The boats moor alongside each other while their occupants share a sumptuous feast of Venetian specialties and await the spectacular fireworks display. To get the full experience we recommend hiring a gondola for the night.
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