Saint Mark

25th of April celebrates the City’s Patron Saint: Saint Mark. Tradition wants that on this day the men make a floral homage to the ladies of their family of a “bocòlo”, that is a splendid long-stemmed red rose bud (“bocòlo” means bud in venetian).
In April the “Su e Zo per i ponti” (Up and down the bridges) takes place, a non-competitive fun-run which involves everyone: youngsters, the less young, families, school-parties.
From May to July one can watch a great variety of regattas:
The “Regata della Sensa” (May) that is the Ascension: during this ceremony, the Doge arrived in the sumptuous “Bucintoro” at the harbour mouth and threw a ring blessed by the bishop into the sea (as a sign of Venice’s dominion over the Adriatic), the symbol of the marriage of the city with the sea. On that day a celebrated fair, to which numerous bystanders and buyers flocked, was held in the city.
The “Vogalonga” is usually held on the second Sunday in May, a rowing marathon of 32 Km. open to all types of rowboats. This important international event attracts more than 15,000 rowing and maritime fans every year from all over the world.
The regatta of Castello (June)
The regatta of Murano (July)