Historical Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics - Amalfi

The rowing challenge of the four Maritime Republics

The Historical Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics is the annual challenge between Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice, the four cities that dominated Mediterranean trade routes during the Middle Ages. The concept was born in the late 1940s from the vision of Pisan knight Mirro Chiaverini, with the first edition held in Pisa in 1956. Since then, the event has rotated annually among the four cities, ensuring each hosts it every four years. When it is Amalfi's turn, the most famous town on the Amalfi Coast (Province of Salerno, Campania) transforms for four days into a stage on the sea.

Two thousand meters in open water

In Amalfi, the race features a unique characteristic: it is the only one of the four venues where the galleons race in open water. The two-thousand-meter course runs along the coast, starting at Capo di Vettica and finishing in front of Marina Grande, under the gaze of thousands of spectators lining the promenade, beaches, and terraces. While Genoa races in the harbor, Pisa on the Arno River, and Venice in the San Marco Basin, only in Amalfi do the long swells and Tirreno winds come into play, making the outcome unpredictable until the final stroke.

The four galleons and their figureheads

Each city fields a galleon bearing the colors and symbols of its Republic:

• Amalfi - blue galleon, figurehead with a winged horse.
• Genoa - white galleon, figurehead with the dragon of Saint George.
• Pisa - red galleon, figurehead with the imperial eagle.
• Venice - green galleon, figurehead with the winged lion of Saint Mark.

The boats are built to identical structural specifications, measuring about fifteen meters and weighing at least 760 kilograms empty. Once made of wood, they are now constructed from fiberglass. Each is manned by eight fixed-seat rowers and a coxswain, chosen from Italy's top rowing athletes. The trophy at stake is a gold and silver galley supported by four sea horses, featuring the emblems of the four Republics.

The historical pageant: three hundred participants

For many, the most spectacular moment is not the race itself but the historical pageant held on the eve of the event. Approximately three hundred costumed participants evoke the society and historical figures of the four Republics. Amalfi showcases its golden age of the 11th century, Genoa features the crusader Guglielmo Embriaco, Pisa highlights the heroine Kinzica de' Sismondi, and Venice commemorates the donation of Cyprus by Caterina Cornaro in 1489. In the Amalfi editions, the procession starts in Atrani and winds along the coastal road to the steps of the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea, concluding amidst drums, flag-wavers, and crowds watching from the windows.

A weekend of city-wide events

Surrounding the regatta, the Municipality of Amalfi builds a multi-day program including exhibitions and conferences at the Arsenale della Repubblica—the ancient medieval shipyard that now houses the Compass and Duchy Museum—concerts in Piazza Duomo, the women's regatta along the coast between Marmorata and Atrani, and fireworks over the bay. The men's race on Sunday is broadcast live by Rai, which has covered the event for decades.

When the regatta returns to Amalfi

Due to the rotation, the race is not held on the Amalfi Coast every year. Amalfi hosted the 2022 edition, won by the home crew, and the 70th edition in May 2025, which went to Genoa. The 71st edition took place in Pisa on June 2, 2026, and the 72nd is expected in Venice in 2027. An official date for the event's return to Amalfi has not yet been announced. However, the city remains a protagonist every year with its blue galleon and the men's and women's crews training between Marina Grande and Atrani.