Saint John of Bragora Festival

A festival in the Castello district

The Saint John of Bragora Festival takes place in one of the most authentic corners of Venice, in the Castello district, around Campo Bandiera e Moro (also known as Campo della Bragora) and the church of the same name, a gem where the composer Antonio Vivaldi was baptised. The festival celebrates Saint John the Baptist, remembered on June 24th, in one of the oldest celebrations in the city's popular calendar.

Events for the neighbourhood

Organised by the neighbourhood committee in collaboration with the Municipality of Venice, the festival offers traditional recreational events: music, open-air cinema screenings, cultural activities, and moments of conviviality. Among the historic initiatives is also the "bochaleri" race along the Riva degli Schiavoni. It is a festival designed primarily for the residents of the district, who experience it as a community event.

Venetian popular tradition

The festival of Saint John the Baptist has been linked for centuries to popular rites and beliefs, from the summer solstice to magical herbs. In Venice, this heritage is revived in the events in Castello, in a district that has managed to preserve its character as a village within the city. An opportunity to discover a different Venice, made up of lived-in squares and neighbourhood traditions.