Among the narrow streets and canals of Venice, some of Italy’s most beloved and spectacular festivals are celebrated each year, weaving together faith, history, art and scenic beauty. Among these, the Feast of the Redentore and the Feast of the Sensa stand out as events of profound symbolic and visual significance, drawing both Venetians and visitors from around the world. At Scala we are pleased to guide you through our archive in search of artistic testimonies of these remarkable events.
The Night of the Redeemer: Between Memory and Fireworks
The night between the third Saturday and Sunday of July (this year falling between July 19th and 20th) marks the celebration of the Feast of the Redentore, one of the most cherished occasions for Venetians. Born from the memory of the devastating plague epidemic that struck the city between 1575 and 1577, this festival is both a religious observance and a collective spectacle.
At the heart of the celebration lies the floating votive bridge, constructed for the occasion from boats moored along the Giudecca Canal, which allows the pedestrian procession to reach the Church of the Redentore. This church was designed by Andrea Palladio as an ex-voto offering for the city’s salvation. Saturday night comes alive with lights and colors through one of Italy’s most renowned fireworks displays, earning even the title of “the most famous night.”
This tradition is well documented in the visual arts: many Venetian painters have depicted the bridge, the church, and the festivities, leaving us vivid testimonies of a collective ritual that continues to move people even today.
Another captivating celebration is that of the Sensa, which falls on Ascension Day (this year held on June 1st). This observance celebrates the “Serenissima’s” – “the most serene” as the Republic of Venice used to be known- victory against piracy and the Republic’s naval dominance over the Upper Adriatic.
The centerpiece of the event is the “Marriage to the Sea,” a symbolic ceremony in which the Doge, aboard the magnificent Bucintoro, accompanied by Venetian nobility and a cortege of boats, ventures into the lagoon to the harbor mouth of the Lido to recite a prayer at the church of San Nicolò, patron saint of sailors. Here, the Doge casts a blessed ring into the sea while pronouncing the solemn formula: “We wed thee, sea. As a sign of true and perpetual dominion”.
This ritual has fascinated painters and travelers for centuries: Antonio Canal, known as Canaletto, immortalized its magnificence multiple times. One of his most celebrated versions, The Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day, was recently sold at auction by Christie’s in London for the incredible sum of 31 million pounds. Considered one of the masterpieces of Venetian vedutismo, the painting boasts the illustrious provenance of having belonged to Britain’s first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, and is distinguished by its exceptional state of preservation.
Beyond the Feast of the Redeemer and the Sensa, Venice also celebrates the Historical Regatta (the first weekend of September, this year the 6th and 7th), the Feast of the Madonna della Salute (November 21st) and of course the famous Carnival. These events, passed down through the centuries and often chronicled by great artists of the past, represent not only the living soul of the city but also an intangible heritage of immense value.
Each festival serves as a bridge between past and present, between art and devotion, between sea and land, and it is precisely this profound connection that makes Venice unique.
If you wish to explore the theme of Venetian Celebrations, our team of expert researchers can help find the perfect image for your project. Contact us.
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In the cover: Ippolito Caffi, Festival at the Molo di San Marco, Ca’ Pesaro Gallery of Modern Art, Venice, Italy
