If you plan to visit Venice in July, you can schedule your itinerary to coincide with the Festa del Redentore , the biggest event in July. As the festival is accompanied by fireworks and a rowing competition, it is an especially exciting time to visit. There are no Italian national holidays in July.
Third Sunday of July – Festa del Redentore. Venice has several festivals that commemorate episodes of the plague that gripped the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. The largest of these festivals is the Festa del Redentore, or Festival of the Redeemer, which marks the end of a great epidemic in 1576. The focus of this festival is the Redentore church, a construction designed by Palladio on the island of Giudecca, built to thank God for ending the plague.
During the Redentore festival, the temporary walkway from the mainland to Giudecca Island, which is created from a flotilla of connected boats, becomes one of the most famous bridges in Venice. This is a very beautiful and moving event. The festival ends with an exciting fireworks display and there is also a gondola regatta associated with the event. For more information and schedules, see Festa del Redentore on the Venezia Unica website.
All month during odd-numbered years – La Biennale. The world-famous contemporary art show that is the Venice Biennale starts in June every two years during odd-numbered years and runs through November, so summer is a great time to attend some of the special events associated with the Biennial or see the art exhibitions. Even in years when the arts biennial is not held, you will still find biennials dedicated to film, architecture, dance, and music. Read more about the Venice Biennale.
Outdoor Movies and Concerts in Summer : Summer is a great time to find outdoor movies and concerts in various squares in Venice, like Campo San Polo. Look for posters on the walls about these special outdoor events.
Summer getaway on the beach: Venice Lido or Chioggia . If you want to spend a day at the beach, the closest place to go is the Venice Lido, which can be easily reached by vaporetto from St. Mark’s Square. While the beaches will be crowded, it will likely be a relief from the heat. Venice tends to be quite hot and humid in summer. You can also take the special summer tourist ferry to the beautiful town of Chioggia, where there are good sandy beaches in the Sottomarina area, as well as a pedestrian street that runs along the beach.
Read on : Venice Festivals and Events in August or take a look at our monthly Venice calendar to see what happens when you plan to visit.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated and edited by Martha Bakerjian and Elizabeth Heath.
