Venice Historical Regatta

The heart of Venetian rowing tradition

The Historical Regatta is the most beloved and followed event of the rowing season in Venice. It takes place every year on the first Sunday of September along the Grand Canal, the waterway that crosses the historic center of the city, and it is an event that unites the spectacular, competitive, and historical memory of the Republic of Venice in a single day.

The Historical Parade

The day opens with the Historical Parade, a water procession of typical 16th-century boats, including the bissona, caorline, and boats steered by rowers and figures in period costume. The parade commemorates the solemn welcome given by the city to Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, who in 1489 abdicated her throne in favor of the Serenissima. The historic boats sail up the Grand Canal from St. Mark's Basin to the train station, offering a scene that transports viewers back to the Venice of the Doges.

The Regattas

After the parade, the competitive regattas take center stage, divided into categories: the very young on mascarete, women and men on various boats, culminating in the main race of the two-oared gondolini, the most anticipated and hard-fought moment. The rowers, often from entire families of rowers from the lagoon islands, compete for the coveted flags (red, white, green, and blue) awarded to the top four finishers.

An event of Venice and the Veneto region

Organized by the Municipality of Venice, the Historical Regatta is now a recognized symbol of the entire Veneto region and the culture of Venetian rowing. The live RAI television broadcast brings images of the Grand Canal across Italy, while along the banks and from the typical floating grandstands (the "machines"), thousands of spectators follow the races.