Holiday apartments for Festa del Redentore 2010

The Venetian celebration “Festa del Redentore” is, alongside the Carnival of Venice, one of the most popular and important events in the city, celebrated with passion and a certain degree of reverence. For many Venetians, the “Festa del Redentore” is a ritual of redemption. For others, it is a way of giving thanks that Venice is now free of epidemics and deadly diseases. For many local spectators and thousands of holidaymakers, this event in Venice, the “Festa del Redentore,” remains one of the most beautiful and memorable celebrations, drawing attention to specific events throughout Venice’s history.

The origins of the “Festa del Redentore” lie in the proclamation, in 1577, that the city and its people had defeated the plague. For more than two years, the plague had ravaged not only Venice, robbing more than 50,000 people of their lives. The Doge of Venice, Alvise Mocenigo, felt called to build a church dedicated to the Redeemer. This church still stands in Venice today and is at the very heart of the “Festa del Redentore” celebrations. The architect of the church of “Il Redentore” on the outlying island of Giudecca was none other than the much-revered Andrea Palladio. Just a few months after the foundation stone was laid, victory over the plague was proclaimed on 13 July 1577. Every year, a 330-metre-long bridge is built especially for the “Festa del Redentore,” allowing people to attend Mass and services there on the third Sunday in July. However, the festivities begin the day before. This year, on 18 and 19 July 2010, the “Festa del Redentore” will once again turn all of Venice upside down. The “Festa del Redentore” is considered one of Venice’s most important events, and the whole city invites you to join in. In particular, the hosts of holiday apartments and hotels in Venice’s historic centre promise unforgettable moments around St. Mark’s Square, in the Basin of St. Mark, and along and on the Giudecca Canal. On the Saturday of the “Festa del Redentore,” tables and chairs are set out. Venetian families prepare food to be enjoyed on the water or beside it late into the evening. It is said that around 1,500 boats will gather on the Giudecca Canal to await the spectacular fireworks display. In honour of the so-called Day of the Redeemer, all the boats are lavishly decorated in striking, vivid colours. The wait for the hour-long fireworks display, from Saturday night into Sunday, is filled with plenty of music, dancing and a lively atmosphere. The “Festa del Redentore” fireworks usually begin around 11 p.m. It is also customary for the boats to head out to the Lido, to Venice’s beaches, after the magnificent display, where they wait for sunrise.

As mentioned, Sunday at the “Festa del Redentore” is devoted to Masses in Venice’s churches. Around 4 p.m., boats gather on the water once again. Although the Il Redentore regatta is not officially part of the “Festa del Redentore” celebrations, it is a popular spectacle and is considered by many, especially holidaymakers in Venice, to be the grand finale of the “Festa del Redentore.”