The Vogalonga is a 30km rowing “race” through the city of Venice, the lagoon up to Burano island. All typologies of boats are accepted providing they are rowed or paddled boats. Even kayaks and the Chinese dragoon boats can participate. The first edition of Vogalonga took place in 1975 when a group of Venetians had the idea of a non-competitive race in the spirit of supporting the Venetian rowing tradition and also as a message against the growing use of engine boats and wave motion. No competition, no winners, just a big event and a commemorative medal to all participants
Events and Festivals
Every year, on the first Sunday afternoon of September, the Historical Regatta takes place in Venice along the Gran Canal. This is the biggest rowing event on Venice calendar. Thousands of people watch it from the Gran Canals banks, from the palaces windows and balconies and from floating stands.
The Redentore (the Redeemer) is one of the most famous Venetian traditional festivals. The event commemorates the end of the terrible plague that struck the city in 1575 and after two years had caused the death of 50,000 people, more than a third of the population at that time.
The Venice Marathon was the first Italian marathon recognized by Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and included in the international calendar of the IAAF.
The first edition was organized in 1986 and from 2011 also runs through St Mark’s square and ends in Riva dei Sette Martiri. It is held annually on the fourth Sunday of October with the classic distance of 42.195 kilometers, starting from little town of Stra, near Padua, and noted for its famous Villa Pisani.
Santa Maria della Salute – commonly known as Salute – is an outstanding baroque church which stands in a prominent position at the junction of the Gran Canal and Bacino di San Marco.
Its construction is related to a devastating epidemic of the plague in 1630 that had killed a third of Venice population. The Republic of Venice vowed to build a church and dedicate it to the Virgin of Health (Salute means both health and salvation).
The Venice Biennale has been for over a century one of the most important cultural event in the world. Since its creation the Biennale has been the international hub of art research and promotion of innovative trends. This institution was born in 1895 with the organization of the First International Art Exhibition. In 1930ies new sections were created: Music, Cinema and Theatre.