Festa della Sensa 2012 Venice

The enchantment of the city's marriage to the sea is back

If you are looking for a special opportunity to visit Venice, we propose you the next 19 and 20 May, the Festa della Sensa (Feast of the Ascension of Christ).

The Feast of the Sensa, more than any other event, relive the history of the Serenissima, its intimate relationship with the sea and with the practice of Voga alla Veneta.

The feast commemorates two important events for the Republic: on May 9, 1000 when the Doge Pietro II Orseolo rescued populations threatened by the Slavs of Dalmatia.

The second event is connected year 1177, when, under the Doge Sebastiano Ziani, Pope Alexander III and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa at Venice they entered into the peace treaty that ended the century-old dispute between the Papacy and the Empire. During this festival took place the ceremony of marriage of the sea. On that day every year, the Doge, the Bucintoro, reached S. Elena at San Pietro di Castello. Waiting for the bishop, on board a boat with golden shores, ready to bless him. To emphasize the Venetian domination of the sea, the festival would culminate with a sort of propitiatory rite: the Doge once it reaches the mouth of the harbor waters threw a gold ring.

Thanks to the activities of the Committee Festa della Sensa, Venice in 1965 is back to celebrate the event, with a water procession from San Marco to the Lido traditional rowing boats organized by the Coordination of Rowing Clubs Voga alla Veneta, headed by c ‘is the “Serenissima” boat on which they take place, the mayor and other city authorities and which is still celebrated the rite of marriage to the sea through an impressive launching ceremony of a symbolic ring into the water and the subsequent feature religious in the church of San Nicolò di Lido.

Book now your room on our site if you want to miss this incredible show.