How to Celebrate Redentore in Venice

On July 16, 2011 - Boat Parties Filling the Venetian Lagoon

There are newly invented parties and traditional ones. There are parties that are popular and gimmicky, there are even dull parties. Not always do the traditional ones know how to reinvent themselves to live up to the modern day standards of what a party should be like, especially among the young people who usually have only heard very long ago things like “yeah, my grandfather would celebrate a long time ago…”

But Venice is different for many reasons, perhaps even in this way. There's a party, the third Saturday of July, which has always been a must go for everyone of all ages, Venetians or not. It is the Redentore Party (also known as the boat festival) that goes back to 1577 when, after ravaging the city (over 50,000 died according to the chronicles), in the age of the end of the plague.

So to celebrate this miracle, Venice decided to build a church on the island of Giudecca, just in front of Piazza San Marco. The architect, Andrea Palladio, did it in record time, just 15 years.

For the occasion, Venice dresses up for the occasion( now mostly in boat wear or sundresses), and this event is more popular than Carnival. A floating wooden bridge is put up for only two days going across the Giudecca canal, to be able to go to the Salute church. What is more spectacular is that at midnight, fireworks cover the sky for nearly an hour and also glows along the lagoon.

Where can you party exactly? There are many options: there are those who walk around town, those who go to parties in restaurants decorated for the occasion and those who celebrate along the island banks of Giudecca near the fireworks. But if you organize in time, it is best to go to a boat party. All boats of all shapes and sizes float between the church and San Marcos where you can eat, drink, dance and be with friends and family. You’ll find many boats are connected by ropes to make it easy to end up on the neighboring boat!

Check out the site for more deals in Venice and come party like the Venetians have and will do on July 16th! Go for it and see Venice at its best traditional party this summer!