Festa de la Sensa 2010

Festa de la Sensa and the Vogalonga are two striking events in Veneto that add a touch of magic to the days around Ascension Day in Venice. Both events are dedicated to the sea. Both events around Ascension and Pentecost in Venice—the Festa de la Sensa and the Vogalonga regatta—make a trip to Venice for Ascension and Pentecost worthwhile. There are still plenty of vacancies among the holiday apartments and hotels in Venice , so a last-minute holiday in Venice for Ascension and Pentecost may be possible. As always, this information is not a guarantee.

Both events in Venice follow an old tradition and, surprisingly, have little to do with experiencing a religious festival rooted in Christian belief. The Festa de la Sensa and the Vogalonga boat regatta in Venice have historical origins. The Festa de la Sensa is a celebration often described as the “marriage of Venice to the sea.” Visitors experience a very picturesque and, above all, colorful city. The focal point of this ceremony, so to speak, is San Nicolò on the Lido di Venezia. Here, after a journey through the Venetian lagoon and past the palaces of the Doges, the current mayor of Venice will bring the so-called ship procession to an end aboard a richly decorated ceremonial vessel. For centuries, the Doges of Venice, the Venetian governments and, today, those holding the office of mayor have symbolically cast a gold ring into the water, affirming Venice’s love for the sea. There are two different accounts of the origins of this tradition and the celebration of the Festa de la Sensa. For instance, the travel guide to Veneto published by Michael Müller Verlag notes that Venetian fleets once came to the aid of Dalmatia, then at war, under Doge Pietro Orseolo II. Dalmatia subsequently submitted to the Venetians, and the government, which at the time called itself La Serenissima, celebrated its first victory in its campaigns of conquest to the east upon arriving in port. Veneto’s tourism authorities give the year as 998, when this marriage ceremony between Venice and the sea is said to have been celebrated for the first time. Other sources, however, say that the Festa de la Sensa commemorates Doge Ziani’s mediation in the dispute between Pope Alexander III and Emperor Barbarossa. A comparison of the dates quickly shows, however, that Pope Alexander III was not elected until 1159 and that the Peace of Venice was concluded on August 1, 1177.

Yet once the current mayor of Venice pays homage to the sea at the Festa de la Sensa, or watches the rowing-boat competition at the Vogalonga regatta, it is easy to forget which account is actually true about the origins of the celebration of Venice’s marriage to the sea at the Festa de la Sensa.