While Venice hosts sailing events throughout the year, it is the warm days of May that really kick off the racing season. The best known of these races is the Vogalonga, a rowing competition that accepts competitors from all over the world, held in late May or early June.
For information on the festivals and events that take place each May in Venice, read below. Note that May 1, Labor Day, is a national holiday, so many businesses, including museums and restaurants, will be closed. Many Italian and European tourists take advantage of the holidays to visit Venice, which makes popular tourist spots especially crowded on May 1. In general, May is also considered high season for Venice hotels.
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May 1 – Labor Day and the Festa Della Sparesca
Primo Maggio is a national holiday in Italy, which is why many Venetians leave the city for a long weekend. Those who stay in the city can witness the Festa Della Sparesca , a gondolier regatta held in Cavallino on the lagoon. As some Venetians leave the city, many more tourists arrive, making St. Mark’s Square extremely crowded. If you are in Venice on May 1, it is probably best to avoid the main tourist attractions in Venice.
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Mid-May – Festa della Sensa
La Festa della Sensa , the ceremony commemorating Venice’s marriage to the sea, takes place on the first Sunday after Ascension Day (Thursday 40 days after Easter). Historically, the doge performed the ceremony, held in a special boat, of marrying Venice to the sea by throwing a gold ring into the water. However, today the ceremony is performed by the mayor wearing a laurel wreath. After the ceremony, there is a big boat regatta and the day also usually includes a big fair.
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Mid May – Mare Maggio
Mare Maggio, held for 3 days in mid-May, is a newer festival, although it still includes historical re-enactments and traditions related to the city’s navigation and naval glory of the past. It takes place inside the Arsenale , so it is a great opportunity to see inside the military zone of the city.
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End of May – Vogalonga
La Vogalonga, held the weekend following the Sensa festival, is an exciting 32-kilometer rowing race that includes several thousand participants. The course runs from the San Marco basin to the island of Burano, the midpoint, and returns through the Grand Canal to end at Punta della Dogana in front of San Marco. This is one of the main water festivals in Venice, attracting participants from many parts of Italy and beyond. It is also fun to watch. Because the date of the Sensa festival changes every year, the Vogalonga sometimes takes place in early June instead of May.
Note that June also begins with a holiday, the Festa della Repubblica, on June 2. Read on: What’s in Venice in June or check Venice’s monthly calendar to see what’s happening in the month you plan to visit.
