June is a great month for festivals throughout Italy, and Venice is no exception. In particular, this is the month that the Venice Biennale begins. Also note that June 2, Republic Day, is a national holiday, so many businesses, including museums and restaurants, will be closed or have reduced hours.
Here’s an overview of some of the biggest annual and semi-annual festivals Venetians celebrate in June.
June 2: Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day)
This great national holiday in Italy is similar to Independence Day in the United States or Bastille Day in France.
The Festa della Repubblica commemorates that Italy became a republic in 1946 after the end of World War II. Most Italians voted for the republic (rather than a monarchy) and a few years later, June 2 was declared a holiday as the day the Italian Republic was created.
Banks, many shops and some restaurants, museums and tourist sites will be closed or have a modified schedule on June 2. If you plan to visit a site or museum, check their website in advance to see if it is open.
Across Italy, Republic Day is marked by parades, concerts, and festivals that include fireworks.
Venice Biennale
At the beginning of June (every two years in odd-numbered years) is La Biennale, a great contemporary art show that runs for a month until November.
The main site of the Biennale is the Giardini Pubblici (the Public Gardens), where permanent pavilions from more than 30 countries have exhibits, performances and installations associated with the Biennale art exhibition, which takes place around the city in various Museums and galeries. .
In addition to the art exhibition, the Biennale includes a dance series, a children’s carnival, a contemporary music festival, a theater festival and the Venice International Film Festival.
Palio of the four ancient maritime republics
For a boat race riddled with medieval pageantry, look out for the Palio of the Four Ancient Maritime Republics, which Venice hosts in June every four years. Il Palio delle Quattro Antiche Repubbliche Marinare is an annual traditional regatta that changes locations between the four ancient maritime republics: Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa. The event will take place in Venice in 2019.
Before the sailing competition is a parade, in which participants dress in medieval costumes to march through the streets, with flag bearers, horses, drums and trumpeters.
The body of the Lord
Exactly 60 days after Easter, Catholics celebrate Corpus Christi, which honors the Holy Eucharist. In Venice, this holiday generally includes a long procession in and around St. Mark’s Square; This procession is believed to be the oldest Corpus Domini procession in Italy, dating back to 1317.
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Art Night Venezia
To make it ring in the summer, Venice offers a Saturday night of free museum tickets, special events and concerts that last until midnight or later, similar to the White Nights held in other European cities. The event generally takes place on the last or penultimate Saturday in June.
Biennial of Architecture
A branch of the art biennale (see above), the Architecture Biennale is held every two years in even numbered years. The thematic event brings together the world’s best architects and presents innovative large-scale architectural installations.
Veneto Jazz
From May to June, Veneto Jazz brings together the best jazz, world music, folk and alternative musical artists to various places in the city.
Vogalonga
Typically held on the last weekend in May or the first weekend in June, the Vogalonga sees thousands of Venetians and visitors take their oars, participating in a relay along the Grand Canal. The event is a fun way to protest the presence of motorized boats in Venice and draw attention to the damage they cause to the city’s old structures.
Based on the original article by Melanie Renzulli
