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The November 21: Feast of the Madonna della Salute

Alberto — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:58:47 +0000

The celebrations for the Madonna della Salute was established in memory of a terrible plague, that hit Venice during 1630-31 biennium, and the subsequent vow by the Doge to obtain the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

To date, thousands of people goes on a procession on November 21 to the high altar of the massive Salute Church to honour the age-old bond of gratitude that binds the city to the Virgin Mary.

Around the mid-seventeenth century, northern Italy suffered one of the most serious epidemics of plague. Particularly affected the city of Mantova.
The Dukes of Gonzaga, in a desperate attempt to save the city, asked the help of Venice (which is linked by Mantova town with a brotherhood of water and art), with the request to send food and aids by river.
The Serenissima sudden decided to offer its aid , and hosted some plague affected nobles on the island of San Servolo, then uninhabited. One of the carpenters who worked to built the recover become a vehicle of the infection through which the epidemic spread over Venice.

The infection hits Venice rapidly and uncontrolled, after the death of the artisan and his family, after only two week the death were hundreds and hundreds throughout the city.
On the end of winter is the same city that faces the danger of being completely deleted.
The only way left seemed to be the faith in god and in particular Mother Mary there where organized procession attended by survivors: about 10,000 souls running around St. Mark Square for three days and three nights with torches and votive statues.
Its then pronounced a solemn vow that once the city is saved a temple of unseen dimension and beauty will be built in honour of Madonna.
And once again the sky seems to come to the aid of the Republic.

The following weeks a slow regression of the infection was notice and on the following two weeks the plague was finally defeated.
In respect of the vow, a public competition amongst architect and engineer prized young Architect flagship of the new Baroque style.

The building has been completed in about twenty years of work and consecrated on November 21, 1687, the day become the official day of Madonna della Salute.
This day thousands of people walk over the floating bridge to peregrinate and pay homage to mother mary, the tradition wants that they light up a candle and pray for their health.

REGATA STORICA Sunday September 5th 2010

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:12:02 +0000

The Regata Storica is the main event in the annual “Voga alla Veneta” rowing calendar. This unique sport has been practised in the Venetian lagoon for thousands of years and today it is particularly well-known for the spectacular historical water pageant that precedes the race. Scores of typically 16th century-style boats with gondoliers in period costume carry the Doge, the Doge’s wife and all the highest ranking Venetian officials up the Grand Canal in a brightly coloured parade.

An unforgettable sight and a true reconstruction of the glorious past of one of most the powerful and influential Maritime Republics in the Mediterranean. The Regata Storica dates back centuries, probably as far back as the mid thirteenth century when the Serenissima needed to train the crews of its huge navy in the art of rowing.
Today there are four races divided in terms of age and type of craft. The best known and most exciting of these is the “Campioni su Gondolini” race, where a series of small, sporting gondolas fly down the Grand Canal to the finishing line at the famous “machina”, the spectacular floating stage located in front of the Ca’ Foscari palace.

PROGRAMME

THURSDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER
6.00 pm, Campo della Salute
Presentation of the teams and blessing of the gondolini, with the accompaniment by Coro Serenissima

SUNDAY 5th SEPTEMBER

4.00 pm
Historical and Sport water pageant: parade along the Grand Canal by historical crafts with costumed crews, boats and gondolas
of the Venetian rowing associations (Voga alla Veneta)
Course: from St. Mark’s Bay all the way down the Grand Canal.

4.45 pm
Maciarele regatta
Two oared regatta on mascarete dedicated for children, Junior category (under 12 years) and senior (up to age 14).
Course: From San Stae to Ca’ Foscari

4.50 pm
Young rowers’ twin-oared pupparini regatta
Course: the Castello Gardens, St. Mark’s Bay, Grand Canal, Rialto (around the paleto in front of the Banca d’Italia),
and back to finish at Ca’ Foscari.

5.10 pm
Women’s twin-oared mascarete regatta
Course: the Castello Gardens, St. Mark’s Bay, Grand Canal, Rialto (around the paleto between Riva de Biasio and San Marcuola),
and back down the Grand Canal to finish at Ca’ Foscari.

5.40 pm
Six-oared caorline regatta
Course: the Castello Gardens, St. Mark’s Bay, Grand Canal, Rialto (around the paleto in front of the Santa Lucia railway
station), and back down the Grand Canal to finish at Ca’ Foscari.

6.00 pm
Universities Boat Challenge
Challenge on eight-oared galeoni boat by the crew of the Ca’ Foscari and Iuav Universities of Venezia versus the best teams
among the Universities of Genoa, Pisa and Salerno.
Course: From Rialto to Ca’ Foscari

6.10 pm
Twin-oared gondolini regatta
Course: the Castello Gardens, St. Mark’s Bay, Grand Canal, Rialto (around the paleto in front of the Santa Lucia railway
station), and back down the Grand Canal to finish at Ca’ Foscari.

I gioielli di Nino: parade of boats built by Giovanni Giuponi, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Within the Historical and Sport water pageant

Concerts on the Grand Canal during the Regata Storica
- 4.00 pm, Campo della Salute: Concert by Coro Serenissima
- 4.00 pm, Piazzale Stazione Santa Lucia: concert by Banda Musicale di Tessera
- From 3.30 pm, on the Grand Canal: concert by Banda Musicale di Pellestrina on boat

Festa della Sensa 2010

Roberto — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:37:25 +0000

The history of this event started in a long distant past, the 9th May 1000!!!
Festa della Sensa (Ascension Day) relieve the history of Venice and its intimate relationship with the Sea celebrating two very important happening. The first is the 9th May 1000 when Doge Orseolo fought against the Slav to protect the Dalmatians and the second is when in 1177 doge Sebastiano Ziani, the Pope Alessandro III and Federico Barbarossa signed an peace Treaty.
To remember this events the Wedding with the Sea took well deserved place in the history of the city.

This year (as from 1965) Festa Della Sensa will take place Sunday 16th May with a very interesting program that will go beyond a classic re-evocation. in addition to the classical water parade and the venetian Style rowing race we will have a Doge’s procession in Saint Mark’s Square, a Sensa Market at the church of San Nicolò at Lido and the Fort of Sant’Andrea Parade.

For a complete program and detailed information check the official site www.sensavenezia.it .

Venetian Oselle

Roberto — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:58:50 +0000

From March 06th to April 05th 2010, in Venice for the first time, by the Monumental Rooms of the National Library Marciana the public exposure of Venetian “Oselle” the collection belong to the Banca Popolare di Vicenza, it is the unique existing complete collection of the precious Doge’s coins.

The Oselle were the ancient coins that the Doge gifted to noble families of the Serenissima every years, in substitution of the traditional present of the ducks ( Oselle means ducks in Venetian dialect ). This ancient tradition since 1521 up to the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797.
The ancient coins are considered among the most important in the world for beauty, iconography and historical importance, they represent centuries of history of the Venetian Republic, an occasion that can’ t be missed for all those people that love numismatic and history.

Very interesting it is the presence of rare samples such as: the Oselle Doppie and the Oselle d’Oro minted to celebrate exceptional events and illustrious guests of the Republic and the very rare Osella of the Doge Andrea Gritti, minted in 1523 and world-famous in only one sample guarded in Vienna before the Banca Popolare of Vicenza bought it to complete its collection.

The schedules of the show will be the following:
Form the 06th of March to the 05th of April 2010 everyday from 10.00 to 17.00 at the Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, entry from Museum Correr, Napoleonic Wing in St. Mark Square.

Ticket: “I MUSEI DI PIAZZA SAN MARCO” € 12.00 (disc. €6.50), cumulative ticket for all the Civic Museums of San Marco Square: Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.

Doge’s Fireplace just restored!!!

Roberto — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:55:12 +0000

Yesterday the restoration of one of seven Doge Palace’s fireplaces finished!

This one (restored with the finantial contribution of Luciano Marsilli owner of “le Maschere” and “La Vecia Cavana”) has been made between 1486 and 1492 by Lombardo for Doge Agostino Barbarigo. It’s a beautifull example of venetian sculpture of the period, it looks like a lace!!! On the back of the fireplace we can now admire the image of a salamander (half reptile and half fire): it was hided under many layers of painting!

The restoration was under the control of Soprintendenza, who appreciate the job of the artisans involved. Also the Mayor of Venice has been happy of the results.

These restoration ar part of the project “Veneziani x Venezia”: everyone can now finance the restoration of public treasures of Venice! For more information you can check fondacovenezia.org .