Regatta Storica 6 night Cruise

September 5th to September 11th 2010

Go Barging presents one of the most attractive events in Venice:
The Historical Regatta.

For this special occasion, our cruise program will slightly change, to offer the possibility for our guests to admire the Historical Regatta from the sundeck of our barge on the Canale della Giudecca in front of Saint Mark's square, Venice.

We meet you at 9am at the meeting hotel and transfer you to La Dolce Vita. On the Sunday there is a special program, including a very typical Venetian menu, and during the week it will be possible to visit a traditional boat building craftsman and see how a gondola is made out of wood

We've outlined below some of the historical information regarding this exceptional event.

Every year the Regata Storica comes to Venice, the most traditional among the Venetian events, which took place for the first time on the 10th of January 1315 under the rule of the doge Giovanni Soranzo. The sumptuous event, formerly organized to celebrate the military victories or to honour the foreign dignitaries, is today made up of two different parts: the historical parade and the rowing boat races.

The festival starts with the colourful procession on water, formed by the Bissone, the Bucintoro and the boats of the Venetian rowing clubs; the event commemorates the Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro, coming to Venice, which marked the beginning of the Serenissima rule over the Mediterranean island.

The historical parade is now just a memory of the distant economical and political greatness of Venice on the seas, while the regattas represent rowing 'alla veneta': winning that day for the rowers means becoming a part of the history of this sport and, to a certain extent, of Venice.

The first race after the historical parade is for the Young Rowers; one, or two-oared 'pupparini', very technical boats that challenge the ability of the promising young men. Then it's the turn of the Women's race on 'mascarete' (the name comes from their head looking like a mask, the ' bauta'), these are light two-oared boats used in the old days by the courtesans. The third race is the Men's Race, in heavy six-oared 'caorline', these are river-transportation boats, almost out of use nowadays, that were often furnished with a sail while travelling through the lagoon.

The climax of the event is the champions' race on two-oared 'gondolini', light boats shaped as a very slim gondola. Unlike the regattas on the most popular lagoon boats, these competitions show off the rowers technical abilities more than their strength.

Winning in 'Canalasso', as natives call the Grand Canal, is still today the most aspired to wish of every racer, besides being the impossible dream of many Venetians that are still rowing 'alla veneta'.

Traditionally, the rower in first position is awarded the red flag , while 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners receive white, green and blue flags - these take the place of medals.

The race route starts from Riva degli Schiavoni to Punta della Salute where, after the 'cavata' (the start sprint), the public waits impatiently for the first boat entering the Grand Canal, since that is often the winning one. Then (except for the race on pupparini ending up in front of Ca'Foscari) the boats go up the 'Canal Grande' to the train station where the turning pole is, then they go back towards the finish line in front of the 'machina' ( the floating stage reserved for the authorities and built for this occasion on the Grand Canal in front of Ca' Foscari ).

When the various usual accusations of incorrectness and protests are over, in front of the 'machina' the prize-giving ceremony takes place.

It's a great start to an amazing week and places are strictly limited.

La Dolce Vita – Regatta Storica Itinerary

Sunday, Malcontenta – Venice - Casone Zappa in the South Lagoon

Guests are met by the Captain at the meeting hotel at 9am and escorted to La Dolce Vita. Breakfast will be served on the La Dolce Vita sundeck. Two hours of navigation along the delightful Brenta river will take guests to the Canale della Giudecca in Venice where, waiting for the Regatta start, they will enjoy a traditional Venetian menu on the sundeck. Then after this amazing event we will descend into the peaceful Venetian lagoon where you dine in front of Casone Zappa, a masterpiece of early 20th century Italian Liberty style architecture. Dinner on board.

Monday  Torcello – Burano

In the morning La Dolce Vita hugs the coast of Sant’Erasmo with its orchards and vegetable gardens and arrives in Torcello, the first island of the lagoon to be colonised 2000 years ago. We see the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a beautiful example of Veneto-Byzantine style. We have lunch while cruising on the Siloncello canal and in the afternoon we visit Burano, a picturesque fishermen’s island in the northern lagoon. We walk through the colourful streets of Burano and visit the Lace Museum. We moor for the night on the calm waters of Burano.  Dinner on board.

Tuesday    Burano – San Francesco – San Lazzaro – Murano

We start our cruise passing by San Francesco del Deserto Island, where we can moor and visit the monastery. We then proceed to San Lazzaro degli Armeni where we visit one of the most interesting libraries of Venice with 150,000 volumes and more than 4,000 Armenian manuscripts, some nearly 1,300 years old.  The monks of the San Lazzaro monastery have welcomed visitors for more than two centuries.  In 1816, Lord Byron visited the island twice a week for six months, studying Armenian and envying the monks' comfortable academic lifestyle. A plaque quotes Byron as saying, "The visitor will be convinced that there are other and better things even in this life”.  We end the day with a short cruise around Venice to reach Murano and moor for the night on the Grand Canal of the island of glass.  Dinner on board.

Wednesday     Murano – Venice - San Giorgio

We visit a glass-blowing workshop in Murano. Then we move on for a tour of the Grand Canal in Venice aboard a water taxi and reach San Giorgio Island for our lunch facing Saint Mark. In the afternoon we take you on a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark in Venice. Later you have some free time to visit Venice. We moor for dinner on board at San Giorgio Island.

Thursday     San Giorgio -  Brenta River to Dolo

This morning we cruise up River Brenta to Mira, passing by Villa Foscari in Malcontenta, a masterpiece of the Renaissance architect Palladio. We visit Villa Widmann, a typical Venetian luxurious villa with wonderful frescos. In the afternoon we move on for 2 more hours to Dolo, where we moor for the night. For those who like cycling, it is possible to follow the barge on a bicycle today. Before dinner we take you for a glass of wine at the old water mill of Dolo.

Friday       Dolo - Stra - Padova        

Further ascent of river Brenta to Stra, where we visit Villa Pisani, an 18th century masterpiece of Venetian architecture with frescos from Tiepolo.  Whilst we cruise you can follow the barge by bicycle along the river and by the afternoon our cruise brings us in Padua, where we moor at Portello gate, one of the best preserved parts of the ancient city walls. We then visit Giotto’s Chapel and then we walk into the centre, which is as full of history as Venice herself. The Farewell Dinner will be at a restaurant in the centre of Padova

Saturday     Padua - Venice

After breakfast at 9 am you are transferred to Hotel Villa Goetzen in Dolo, Marco Polo.   If you have an early flight or if you are staying at a hotel in Venice, we can make custom arrangements for you at your expense

This itinerary is in reverse direction on alternative weeks

This a sample itinerary and subject to change

Meeting Point: Hotel Goetzen, Dolo at 9am

 

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