Venice is full of tourists all year round, and August is no exception. Many art lovers and celebrities flock here for the Venice Biennale and the world famous Venice International Film Festival, which usually takes place in late August.
If you plan to be in Venice in August, chances are you will be caught up in some of the activities of the famous and lesser known events of the month. If there’s something you don’t want to miss, make sure you reserve your hotel room, transportation, and event tickets well in advance.
Venice Biennale
The multi-month contemporary art extravaganza that is the Venice Biennale begins in June during odd-numbered years and runs through November. The entire city comes to life, with art exhibits, installations, conferences, and events at venues throughout the city. In even-numbered years, the Biennale is devoted to architecture, and large-scale installations appear on all the islands.
Mid-August
This national holiday, celebrated on August 15, marks the peak of the summer holidays for most Italians. Ferragosto, which falls on the religious festival of the Assumption, is the time when local Venetians head to the beach, lakes or mountains to escape the heat and mosquitoes that the height of summer brings. While most of Venice will remain open for tourist business, some smaller restaurants, bars, and shops may close for the week or two before or after August 15.
Venice International Film Festival
Starting at the end of August, the stars go out in full force, in gondolas, water taxis and red carpets for the Venice International Film Festival. The award given for the winning film is the prestigious Leon d’Oro, the Golden Lion, and previous winners have included Akira Kurosawa, Gillo Pontecorvo, Robert Altman, Ang Lee, and Sofia Coppola. The festival itself takes place on the Lido of Venice and tickets for the screenings are hard to come by. But even if you don’t see a first-run movie, your chances of seeing a celebrity in Venice are noticeably higher during the festival.
Cinema under the stars
From the end of July to the end of August, you will find movies and concerts in the open air in various squares around Venice. Most of the films are screened at Campo San Polo, and several English-language films are generally included in the lineup. Stop by Campo San Polo during the day and look for the ticket office.
Venice jazz festival
There’s always a big star at this prestigious summer jazz festival – previous luminaries have included Sting, Pat Metheny, and Wynton Marsalis. Ticketed events take place throughout the city, but be on the lookout for impromptu impromptu sessions in the squares and in bars and restaurants.
Marghera Village Estate
If you find yourself on the mainland on a sultry summer night, head to Piazza Mercato in the Marghera section of mainland Venice. Throughout the month of August, Marghera Village Estate presents outdoor films, many of which premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
Based on the original article by Melanie Renzulli.
