/ FESTA DEL REDENTORE 2010

A traditional festival that lights up St. Mark's bay

Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2010

The Festa del Redentore is a festival that is particularly popular with Venetians as it combines a religious theme with a spectacular celebration that attracts thousands of visitors. On Saturday night, the inimitable setting of St. Mark's Basin hosts a phantasmagorical firework display that lights up the spires, domes and bell towers of the city with a kaleidoscope of colours and reflections. At dusk, just as they have done for centuries, numerous small boats decked out with balloons, decorations and brightly coloured lanterns, begin to flock into St. Mark's Bay and the Giudecca Canal. The boats then moor alongside each other and all the participants enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional Venetian specialities while they wait for the firework display that begins at 11.30pm and lasts until well past midnight.

The history of Redentore
The Festa del Redentore is a tradition that dates back to 1577. It was first held to celebrate the city's deliverance from a terrible plague and the construction of Palladio's "Redentore" (Redeemer) Church, commissioned for the same reason. The Church, built on the Island of the Giudecca, can still be reached by pilgrims during the festival by means of an impressive 330-metre-long pontoon bridge. The "Redentore" celebrations include a solemn religious service and procession presided over by the patriarch of the city, and the weekend ends with a series of gondola races, organised as part of the "Voga alla Veneta" rowing season.


PROGRAM

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
7.00 pm Celebratory opening of the Thanksgiving Bridge, connecting the Zattere to the Church of the Redentore on the island of Giudecca

11.30 pm Fireworks in St. Mark's Bay

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
The 2010 Rowing Season: Redentore Regattas, organized by the Municipality of Venice
4.00 pm A children's twin-oared "pupparini" boat regatta
4.45 pm Twin-oared "pupparini" boat regatta
5.30 pm Twin-oared gondola regatta

7.00 pm
Thanksgiving Mass at the Church of the Redentore on the Giudecca presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Angelo Scola, with the city authorities in attendance


Other events

FRIDAY, JULY 16th
9.00 pm Concert "Mottetti per il Santissimo Redentore" by the Ensamble Barocco Il Sistro, music by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Castello and others - Church of San Salvador (San Marco 4835)

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
9.30 pm Concert by Banda Musicale di Tessera C.C.R.T., traditional venetian music - Fondamenta Zattere (Chiesa dei Gesuati)

8.00 pm Redentore at Forte Gazzera
8.30 pm Fireworks
Organized by the Municipalità of Chirignago Zelarino

9.00 pm Redentore in the arena of Piazza Mercato in Marghera
Organized by the Municipalità of Marghera

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
11.30 am Marinaressa Gardens opening ceremony, Riva Sette Martiri
Organized by the Municipalità of Venezia Murano Burano


If you want to attend the Redentore firework display from an exclusive location purchase here your place to "Redentore Night"








SPECIAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
On Staurday July 17th, in the night, Trenitalia will arrange the following special trains from Venice to the main towns in the Veneto:
- From Venezia Santa Lucia to Mestre: departures at 01:01 - 01:10 - 01:20 - 01:50 - 02:05;
- From Venezia Santa Lucia to Padova: departure at 02:10, stops in alla stations except Porto Marghera;
- From Venezia Santa Lucia to Treviso: departure at 02:42, stops in Mestre, Mogliano Veneto, Preganziol;
- From Venezia Santa Lucia to Vicenza: departure at 02:50, stops in alla stations except Porto Marghera.

 ACTV will adjust local means of transportation, both on water and in the mainland.