I want to attend this event (9/6/09), but I'm not sure what time it begins, the best "free" viewing spots, are locals camped out in those spots hours/the night before? I'm solidifying my itinerary and any info on this would help immensely.
Thanks.
Description I found:
The Regata Storica (Historic Regatta) is a historical reenactment that features colorful 16th-century Venetian boats. The event is a reenactment of the visit to Venice by Caterina Cornaro, the Queen of Cyprus, which marked the beginning of the domination of that Mediterranean island by the Most Serene Republic.
The Procession, which takes place on the first Sunday of September every year, begins with the passage of the characteristic Bucintoro, the galley of state of the Venice Doges, followed by the Bissone, the fast, richly-decorated, war boats of the Venetian rowing clubs.
After the procession, there is a Venetian-style rowing competition, the highlight of the day. Spectators passionately follow the event crowded on the shore, in floating grandstands and on boats tied up along the Grand Canal, rooting for, and encouraging their favorites, while the multi-colored boats glide quickly past.
The Regatta consists of four races with separate categories for different ages and types of boats: a race of "caorline" (six-oar rowboats), a women's race in "mascarete" (two-oar rowboats, a young person's race in "pupparini" (small two-oar rowboats) and a champions' race in gondolas.
The boats start from Sant'Elena and follow the Grand Canal to the Santa Lucia station where they round a pole and turn back towards the finish line in front of the Ca' Foscari palace where a floating stage called the Machina has been constructed.

As it turns out my wife and I are arriving in Venice, our first visit to Italy, on Sept 6 this year. It is a 10:00 AM morning flight arrival which will hopefully be on time since Alilaguna shuttle boats stop running at 2:00 PM due to the Regata.

I found this information and schedule of events:
http://www.veneziamarketingeventi.it...o?idEvento=113

Note the PDF brochure that you can download which has lots more information.

You can also buy tickets from that site (40 Eu!), which presumably gives you a decent seat. Any Fodorite opinions on these buying these tickets? Wonder what you get for that expense, just a decent seat?

You will love it! I went last year - I have a very good friend who is a gondolier so we had a very good seat on his gondola tht was moored on the side of the Grand Canal. Franco, my friend, has introduced me to many of his friends (gondoliers) and one of them, Paolo D'Este - a giant of a man - has won the Regatta Storica I believe 5 times.

Though the Venetians consider this a sort of "religious holiday" in a sense - this event is very very important to the city, there isn't "camping out" on the sides of the Grand Canal the night before. Venetians wouldn't do that - and the carbanieri wouldn't allow any tourists to do it either.

I have seen it twice before and will be seeing it again this year. Yay! It is great - at least the first part, the 'Storica' part. After that, the 'regatta' part, unless you know any of the competitors (unlikely), I don't think is so interesting. Note that the carabinieri do not allow anybody to stand (still) on the Accademia Bridge - you have to keep moving - but you may still be able to get a photo. I was able to get a place on the Scalzi Bridge the second time I saw it and was not bothered by the carabinieri. I don't know about the Rialto Bridge. The bridges obviously offer a good view point. I did not realise, the first time, that the Storica part goes BOTH ways along the Grand Canal. At the Accademia Bridge, the wait will be an hour or so, but at the Scalzi the wait is only a few minutes. Don't tell anyone else this, but I was told by a resident that the best place for a good view is the balcony of the Ca' d'Oro. It does cost 5€ to get in, but you might want to see the museum anyway. But also get around the Rialto Market area, where you may see people in 18th century costumes wandering about.

Years ago we were in Venice during Regatta and enjoyed seeing the decorated parading boats. Didn't realize there were other events but then we were just there briefly. Two warnings based on memory...big crowds and suspension of water taxi service. So we had to wander the crowded sreets to a waiting bus (which we actually enjoyed).

Ozarksbill [email protected]

Thanks for the further info. The Ca d'Oro tip sounds useful and I won't tell anyone. Also will make a point of checking out the Rialto area. Just have to hope our flight arrives in time to catch one of the last water taxis from the airport ...!

I'm glad they finally put out the schedule. The water pageant starts a little earlier than I was expecting. So instead of attending the sung mass @ St. Marks @ 10:30, I'll attend an earlier one and then find my spot. I'm planning on being by the bridge depicted in 7 of 20 on this website: http://www.veneziamarketingeventi.it...o?idEvento=113 (1st column, 4th down) Now if anyone could help as to which bridge that is....
Nelson, do you need me to save you a spot?

bitten, thanks much for the offer to hold a spot, but it looks like finding a stranger in that crowd will be a challange! We'll just wing it and see where we wind up.

BThat must be the Rialto Bridge. Here is a shot from the other side of the bridge and you can see the same buildings that are in the background of your photo:
http://www.pbase.com/image/78851353

Hey, I'll go over to that side and we can take pictures of each other and then post them on Fodors!

Enjoy your trip.

That bridge is definitely the Rialto Bridge.
It should take no more than one hour to get into Venice. Much less if you arrive by water taxi or Alilaguna (many references to modes of arrival on Fodor's). A Mass should not last four hours, so I cannot see a problem with attending a 10:30 Mass, and getting a good place on the Grand Canal.

Hey bitten, just in case, what will you be wearing?!

My wife and I are both short. I'm 5'3", gray hair and glasses. My wife (slim, 5'2") has a disinctive streak of bright pink through the left side of her otherwise auburn colored hair.

Here's a photo of us, of sorts, in Paris last year:
http://www.pbase.com/image/107093369

Who knows? Maybe we will bump into each other.

Nelson & Bert4545: Looks like we're going to have great weather. High of 76°F, 7mph wind, only 20% chance of rain, and partly cloudy.

I'm 6', lt. brown hair. I'll be wearing a bright red polo-type shirt (yes, I've planned clothes and no, it's not my only shirt) and carrying a black slingshot camera bag. If it's too sunny, I'll have on sunglasses and a booney hat. I'm aiming for sitting waterfront in the corner from that pic.

Me, a couple years back from my 1st trip to Europe:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11869049@N00/3872627359/

Those that can't make it to Venice can still try to spot me:
http://www.veniceconnected.com/venic...-rialto-bridge
...or just see the regatta.

Got it, bitten. Thanks. We might have trouble spotting you as you'll blend in with the stars in town for the film festival.

We'll be wandering around somewhere. Have no idea yet where we'll wind up - it will depend on how our travel timing goes.

Have fun.