Padova Marathon (Maratona di Padova), also known as the Saint Anthony Marathon (Maratona di Sant’Antonio), is an annual running competition which takes place in the month of April, in Padua, named in honour of Saint Anthony of Padua. Both professional athletes and amateurs can participate in the race, due to the fact that, in addition to the traditional 42 kilometers marathon, the event also features a half-marathon and shorter routes (of 2, 5 and 12 kilometers), for everyone’s possibilities. SHORT HISTORY For many years, the departure of the race was in Vedelago, north of Padua. In 2009, the start of the race was made in Camposanpiero, and since 2011, due to the end of the contract between the organizing committee and the municipality of Vedelago, the race changed its route: the departure was in Campodarsego and the arrival in the famous square of Prato della Valle. Over the years, the popularity of the event grew, making Padova Marathon one of the main races in Italy, in terms of participants and technical level. Since the 2016 edition, the marathon changed its route again. Now, the departure is made at the Euganeo Stadium, in Padua, and it follows the beautiful route Read more [...]
All Events in Veneto
Venice Biennale 2019
The Venice International Art Exhibition, often called simply the Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia), is one of the oldest, most important and prestigious international art exhibitions in the world. SHORT HISTORY The Venice Biennale was born in 1895, in order to stimulate the artistic activity and the art market in Venice, from the initiative of a group of Venetian intellectuals led by the mayor of the time, Riccardo Selvatico, who, with the resolution of April 19, 1893, proposed to set up a biennial national artistic exhibition. The first editions were held in the Palazzo Pro Arte, then in the Italian Pavilion, and now in the Central Pavilion, near the Giardini della Biennale, in the Castello district. As early as 1907, a number of other buildings began to rise around the Palazzo Pro Arte, the National Pavilions, created by famous architects in the style of the most diverse world architectures. In 1930, the Biennale became an independent organization dedicated mainly to the promotion of new European artistic trends. In that same year, for the first time, the Contemporary Music Exhibition was held, followed two years later, in 1932, by the most important and famous film festival in the world Read more [...]
Festa della Sensa 2019
Festa della Sensa (Feast of the Ascension) is certainly one of the most evocative Venetian traditions, recalling important moments in the history of the Serenissima, through the ceremony of the Marriage of the Sea (Sposalizio del Mare) and the various regattas that takes place, on this occasion, in the Lagoon. Festa della Sensa is, without doubt, one of the most anticipated and appreciated events of the Venetian calendar, not only by tourists, but also by the inhabitants of the city. SHORT HISTORY The feast was born on the day of the Ascension of Christ, to commemorate two very important moments in the history of Venice. The first event occurred on May 9, in the year 1000, when Doge Pietro Orseolo defeated the Slavs who threatened Dalmatia, allowing Venice to become, starting with that moment, the absolute power of the Adriatic Sea. The second event recalls the peace treaty signed in Venice in 1177, between the Doge Sebastiano Ziani, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Alessandro III, which marked the end of the centuries-old conflict between the Empire and the Papacy. On this occasion, the Doge received gifts from the Pope and, at the same time, the recognition of Venice as Read more [...]
Vogalonga 2019
Vogalonga is one of the most beloved Venetian holidays, held every year in the second half of May or even in early June. Both a non-competitive boat race and a manifest against motor-powered boats that pollute the lagoon, Vogalonga gathers in Venice thousands of participants each year. Vogalonga is practically a race of paddle boats, running around the islands of the lagoon, over a distance of about 30 kilometers. This marathon of non-motorized boats does not have winners, or if you want, winners are all those who participate. Because the race does not limit the participation of anyone, Vogalonga offers an opportunity for both the locals and people from other parts of Italy, and even for participants from around the world. SHORT HISTORY In 1974, a group of friends started to organize a small race in the waters of the Venetian lagoon. Among them, perhaps the most fervent promoter of the event was Lauro Bergamo, who was at the time the director of Il Gazzettino newspaper. The first Vogalonga took place on May 8, 1975, the day of the Festa della Sensa, when the race started in front of the Palazzo Ducale, on a signal given by a cannon-shot. Read more [...]
Transit of Saint Anthony 2019
Transit of Saint Anthony is a religious ceremony and, at the same time, a historical reenactment dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, held every year in Padua, on June 12, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Anthony, recalling his last moments on earth. On this occasion, a procession starts around 8.30 am from Piazzale Azzurri d’Italia, in Arcella, a district of Padua, and winds along the streets of the city. Around 9.30 am, the procession reaches Sanctuary dell’Arcella, a church that preserves the room in which St. Anthony of Padua died, and the concert of the bells of the entire city begins. SHORT HISTORY Born in 1195, in Lisbon, Saint Anthony was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He is known for his powerful preaching and for his devotion to the poor and the sick. In 1231, at the age of 35, sick and aware of his approaching death, Saint Anthony asked to be taken from Camposampiero, a town about 20 kilometers north of Padua, to the city where he wanted to be buried. He was taken to Padua in an ox-drawn cart and, once he arrived on the outskirts of the city, Read more [...]
Festa del Redentore 2019
Festa del Redentore (Feast of the Redeemer) is one of the most beloved Venetian celebrations, held every year in Venice, in the third weekend of July. At first, Festa del Redentore was a purely religious feast, but, over time, profane elements found their place alongside religious manifestations, and today the event includes a party, a regatta and one of the most impressive firework display in the world. SHORT HISTORY Between 1575 and 1577, Venice was hit by a merciless plague that killed about one-third of the city’s population. Due to the precarious conditions in which the people were living and to a high population density, the disease spread rapidly and was difficult to control. In 1576, the Venetian Senate decided to build a church dedicated to Jesus the Redeemer (Il Redentore), hoping to get rid of the disease. A year later, in July, the city was declared cured, and the Venetians initiated a new celebration called Festa del Redentore. Today, the feast takes place in the third weekend of July and, on this occasion, a bridge is built across the Giudecca Canal, between Zattere and the Giudecca Island, that people cross in a short pilgrimage to the church built Read more [...]
Sting – My Songs Tour 2019
Sting will perform on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at the Arena Live Ex Foro Boario, in Padua, as part of his My Songs tour. THE ARTIST Sting was born in Newcastle, England, in 1951, and moved to London in 1977. In London, he formed the Police, together with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five albums, won 6 Grammys, 2 Brit Awards and in 2003 was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sting, as a solo artist, received 10 Grammy, 2 Brit Awards, 1 Golden Globe, 1 Emmy, 4 Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination, the Billboard Magazine’s Century Awards and the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2004. Over the course of his long career, Sting sold almost 100 million albums (including albums released with the Police and solo albums). THE VENUE Arena Live Ex Foro Boario is an open-air structure located in Via Giuseppe Tassinari, in Padua, close to the Gran Teatro Geox. The easiest way to reach the arena is by taxi.
Regata Storica 2019
Regata Storica (Historical Regatta) is both a historical reenactment and a sporting event taking place every year on the first Sunday of September, in Venice. The Historical Regatta is a celebration loved by the locals and tourists alike, and the most important event of the Voga alla Veneta (Row like a Venetian) calendar. SHORT HISTORY The nature of the Venetian Lagoon encouraged rowing since the appearance of the first people in the area, who were forced to move mainly on water. It did not took long until the skills of the locals were recognized, and from here to the organization of rowing competitions it was only one step. Every year, Regata Storica begins with an impressive procession that commemorates the triumphal reception in Venice of Catherine Cornaro, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus. She, coming from a wealthy and influential Venetian family, abdicated in 1489 in favor of Venice, being applauded upon her return. During the celebration, boats similar to those of the 16th century navigate the Grand Canal, headed by a replica of the famous Bucintoro (Bucentaur), the festive ship of the Doges of Venice. Seven rowing races take place on this day, structured by category, Read more [...]
Festa della Salute 2019
Festa della Madonna della Salute, commonly known as Festa della Salute, is a religious celebration taking place every year on November 21, in Venice. The feast, dedicated in particular to the locals and less known by tourists, has a strong religious character, taking the form of a pilgrimage which starts from San Marco, from the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio, and ends in Dorsoduro, at the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, crossing the Grand Canal on a votive bridge specially built on boats for this occasion. SHORT HISTORY Festa della Salute, like many local holidays, commemorates a painful moment in Venice’s history – the epidemic from 1630-1631. The disease had been brought from Mantova in June of 1630 by some ambassadors sent to ask for help, and spread rapidly throughout the city, killing almost 50,000 people in about a year. In the autumn of 1630, the Venetians organized a three-day procession involving more than 10,000 people, during which Nicolò Contarini, the Doge of Venice, invoked the help of the Virgin Mary and publicly promised to raise a church called Salute, if the city will get rid of the plague. In April, 1631, the Doge was killed by Read more [...]
