Regata storica
The Regata Storica is the most important regatta in Venice and the most traditional regatta in Europe. It takes place on the Grand Canal on the first Sunday in September and is intended to commemorate the great, unique history of Venice. The term regatta is derived from this boat race .
history
The regatta has its origins in the second half of the 13th century. Historically, the regattas are said to have originated on the occasion of an exercise by crossbowmen on the Lido. The rowers of the big boats passed the time with races while they waited for their masters at San Marco. When a war threatened around 1300, the government organized an official regatta on the day of the Feast of Mary in order to recruit mercenaries among the spectators. There were also women's regattas, for the first time in 1493 in honor of Beatrice d'Este , the wife of the Prince of Milan. 50 young girls took part. The name Regata first appeared on a city map of Venice by Jacopo de 'Barbari around 1500 . Possibly the term derives from aurigare (race). The term found its way into most European languages as a name for boat races.
With the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, the regatta was given up. Only in 1841 was another regatta held on the Grand Canal with the permission of the Austrian government. With the annexation of Venice to the Kingdom of Italy , the race was connected with a festival in memory of the glorious history of Venice. In 1899 the event was named Regata storica .
procedure
The actual regatta is preceded by a maritime parade several kilometers long with historical boats and crews in costumes in the style of the 15th century. The parade of ships on the occasion of the handover of Cyprus to the Republic of Venice by Caterina Cornaro is recreated. The procession is led by the Bucintoro , the gilded state ship. Participants in the magnificently decorated boats represent the Doge Agostino Barbarigo and his wife, as well as Caterina Cornaro and other personalities.
Then the rowing regatta begins, which takes place in four rounds.
- the regatta of young people, the Regata dei Giovanissimi su pupparini a due remi . Male adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 can take part in two-man boats, the so-called pupparini. The participants will be determined in two preliminary runs at the end of August.
- the women's regatta, the Regata delle Donne su mascarete a due remi . Participants are women aged 14 and over, who will be determined in two preliminary runs at the end of August. You also compete in pairs on mascarete, historic fishing boats.
- the regatta of men in a six- person boat, the Regata delle Caorline a sei remi . Participants are each a boat representing the municipalities of Venice and the lagoon municipalities of Campagna Lupia , Cavallino-Treporti Chioggia , Jesolo , Mira , Musile di Piave and Quarto d'Altino . If more than one boat per municipality applies, the participants will be determined in preliminary runs.
- the regatta of men in two-man gondolini , the Regata dei Gondolini a due remi . The participants start, in pairs, in a smaller, narrower version of the Venetian gondola . The participants will be determined in three preliminary runs at the end of August.
The runs begin at the Giardini Napoleonici and lead through the San Marco basin into the Grand Canal. It is turned at various points. The goal is always at Ca 'Foscari .
Since most of the spectators have their seats on private boats and only a few grandstands are set up on the bank, it is essential to reserve seats in good time. It is not permitted to linger on the bridges over the Grand Canal during the regatta.
literature
- DuM Visuell Venice, p. 54
- Thorsten Droste, DuMont Art Guide Venice , DuMont Verlag, Cologne 2000, 3rd edition, ISBN 3-7701-3582-2
Web links
- Official website of the Regata Storica (Italian, English)
- Regata storica on invenicetoday.com (Italian)