Venice Redentore Festival: Fireworks like the 4th of July

The good ol’ US of A has fourth of July and our beloved Italy has the Venice Festa del Redentore. Maybe both occasions celebrate something different but they both do share a common ground–fireworks! Two days of commemoration and fireworks that light up the sky in St. Mark’s Bay bringing all of Venice to look up and marvel.
The Festa del Redentore is a tradition that dates back to 1576. It was first held to celebrate the city’s redemption from a terrible plague and in its conquest, the construction of Palladio’s “Redentore” (Redeemer) Church had been commissioned. The Church, built on the Island of the Giudecca, can still be reached by pilgrims during the festival by means of an impressive 330-metre-long pontoon bridge. During the festival, the footbridge from the mainland to Giudecca, which is created from a connected flotilla of boats, becomes one of the most famous bridges in Venice.
The “Redentore” celebrations include a religious service and procession presided over by the patriarch of the city, and the weekend ends with a series of gondola races, organized as part of the “Voga alla Veneta” rowing season. With the bay filled with a myriad of boats all waiting for the fireworks to begin, St.Mark’s Basin is transformed into one of the most atmospheric stages in the world.
Article by Deborah Ambar
Curious about the Redentore Festival? Check out this awesome Lonely Planet-recommended blog by Cat Bauer, local resident of Venice:
Festa Del Redentore–Feast of the Redeemer
Join FlorenceForFun in Venice for the Festa Del Redentore
If you’d like to see the incredible fireworks show in Venice, all of the information about booking can be found on www.florenceforfun.com by searching for Venice Fireworks under Trip Finder on the right side of the page.