Festa del Redentore

Festa del Redentore Review

On the third Sunday of July, crowds of pilgrims cross the Canale della Giudecca by means of a pontoon bridge, which is traditionally built every year to commemorate the doge's annual visit to Palladio's Chiesa del Redentore to offer thanks to the Redeemer for the end of a 16th-century plague. Over the course of the Saturday before, neighbors mark off picnic turf with tables and chairs along the fondamente on Giudecca and Zattere, and even in Sant'Elena park. As evening falls, thousands take to the streets and tables, and thousands more take to the water. Boats decorated with colored lanterns, well provisioned with wine, watermelon, and snacks, jockey for position to watch the grand event. Half an hour before midnight, from a barge floating in the Bacino di San Marco, Venice kicks off a fireworks display right over the top of the boat fleet, moored so densely across the bacino that you could almost walk from San Marco and San Giorgio. Any hotel and restaurant with a view of the bacino will organize expensive terrace dinners and parties (reserve well ahead), and many tourist boats host evening excursions. Anywhere along Piazza San Marco, Riva degli Schiavoni, or Giardini you'll find good viewing; or try Zattere, as close to Punta Dogana as you can get. Anywhere along the Giudecca is good, but the Zitelle end is the most popular. The show isn't held in the rain, but no one can recall the last time it rained for Festa del Redentore. After the fireworks you can join the young folks in staying out all night and greeting sunrise on the Lido beach, or rest up and make the procession to Mass on Sunday morning.