The Vogalonga naval review is not a contest. The participants get attendance certificates graded according to different categories. Due to the numerous visitors during the Vogalonga and the high demand accommodations it is recommended to check hotel rates and book rooms well in advance.
The Vogalonga is held on the Pentecost Day which according to Venice’s tradition is connected to the symbol marriage of the Doge (noble man in ancient Venice) to the sea.
The naval review course length is 30km (18 miles). It crosses the Lagoon to the Burano Island and twists it way back through Cannaregio to the end point in the Grand Canal.
The boats gather in St. Mark’s Basin and the enormous crowd enjoys the sight of the beautiful colorful boats at the time they leave and when they come back.
Venice Vogalonga – clarification on some incorrections…
Hello – just wanted to clear a few points about the Vogalonga.
1. It has nothing to do with the traditions of the middle ages.
2. The regatta held on the Ascension day is a different event and is held on the Ascension day.
The Vogalonga held on the Pentecost.
3. It was began in 1975 by the local rowing clubs as a protest against the wash and the waves created by the ever increasing number of motor boats in the city and the lagoon.
4. There is no limit to the number of boats that can participate – as long as they are paddled or rowed (although there has been a recent limit of 7000 rowers put in place).
5. The ‘antique reconstructed boats’ of the middle ages do not participated in the Vogalonga – but only in the Ascension parade and the Historical Regatta (held on the first sunday of September).
6. The participants receive participation medals, poster and t-shirt but there are certainly no grades or categories -as mentioned above, the only limit to participation is that the boat must be powered by paddle or oar (venetian rowing boats, gondolas of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 people, kayaks, dragon boats, war canoes, rowing boats of all types, canoes, viking boats, traditional dutch boats, even boats made of plastic bottles – would like to see you try to put boats in categories….!)
6. You do not need to reserve a hotel room to see this event – you can join the local crowds at Cannaregio, sipping prosecco and clapping or whistling enthusiastically – towards the end of the event – for a close up of the hundreds of boats filing past, or you can see them from the Rialto Bridge, the Acadamia bridge or at the arrival point at the Salute church. For more clarification and more correct information about the Vogalonga, you can visit http://www.vogalonga.com – where it all started. Cheers
Thanks for putting into effect my corrections….
Thanks for putting into effect some of the corrections to your original information (which is not that published above). Just one little point, however . the Vogalonga and the tradition of the Doge’s marriage to the sea are 2 dfferent events. The Vogalonga, as you have correctly put is (generally) held on the Pentecost and is now going into it’s 40th edition. The traditional marriage to the sea is held on Ascension Day and is a centuries old event.
Cheers