Celebrated every year, the festival of the Redeemer in Venice is a popular event for all residents.
If you happen to be in the area at the time, I recommend you attend this celebration.
You'll discover one of Venetia's most deeply-rooted traditions.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to this event.
The Festival of the Redeemer in Venice: article summary
The Festival of the Redeemer in Venice: in brief
This festival is celebrated on the third Sunday in July. It's one of Venice's biggest events, and is preceded on Saturday evening by a splendid fireworks display lasting over forty minutes.
The fireworks usually start at 11:30 p.m., but in order to find a space that allows them to be viewed comfortably, many bring chairs and tables the night before, while the cooks prepare the festive specialties, guinea fowl and sardines in saur.
Every year, a floating bridge rises to connect the Fondamenta delle Zattere in Campo del Redentore
Usually open from 7.30 p.m. On Saturdays, it is closed during the fireworks display, reopening immediately after the fireworks have ended. It is accessible all Sunday, during the Feast of the Redeemer, and processions are organized by the Patriarch. On Mondays, the bridge is removed to make way for traffic.
The history of the Redeemer Festival in Venice
In 1575, in the first days of July, the first people began to fall ill with the plague, but the city government didn't handle the epidemic in the right way, underestimating the consequences.
By the end of September, the disease had already claimed numerous victims and the late transfer of patients to the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio, the quarantine of people who had had contact with patients on the island of Lazzaretto Nuovo or hospitalization, or on ships carrying beggars and travelers, only served to weaken the spread of the terrible disease.
On September 4, 1576, the Venetian Senate decreed the construction of the a church dedicated to our Redeemer.
On the third Sunday in July 1577, Doge Sebastiano Venier proclaimed the end of the plague and commissioned Andrea Palladio to design and build the splendid temple dedicated to the Redeemer as a token of his gratitude. for the end of contagion.
A huge bridge for the procession
To get to the GiudeccaMore than eighty galleys support the bridge across which the Doge and the Scuole Grandi solemnly brought devotion and thanksgiving for past fear to the temple.
Since then, a tradition continues to this day: a floating bridge is built and inaugurated every Saturday evening at 6 pm, between the shore of the Zattere and the Giudecca, just in front of the church, because every year the population, preceded by political and religious figures, can go in procession to the votive temple.
This religious festival is very important to Venetians. Today, it has become an international event, attracting people from all over the world. Proof of this are the many private cruise ships that moor along the Zattere shoreline on festival days.
Redeemer Festival in Venice: where to see the fireworks
The best points from which the fireworks are clearly visible are, every year, besieged by large numbers of people arriving in the early afternoon. to see the fireworks.
There are locations all over town. However, the most interesting places to watch the fireworks are :
- The banks of Piazzetta San Marco
- Riva degli Schiavoni
- The Zattere
- La Fondamenta della Giudecca
- Visit Accademia Bridge
The the Redeemer in Venice is an exceptional event. In addition to the almost endless fireworks display, there are numerous festivities all weekend long. Enough to spend a great time in the floating city.
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