This is one of the most traditional Venetian celebrations. It began in 1315 with the Doge Giovanni Soranzo to celebrate the glory of the Serenissima. The festival was a way to honour foreign dignitaries visiting the city, or celebrate a military victory.
Today the Regata Storica takes place on the first Sunday of September and has two different components: the Historical Procession and the 'Regatta' races.
The festival begins with the historical procession, a colourful progress along the Grand Canal, with oarsmen dressed in historical costumes steering the 'Bucintoro' and the 'Bissone' (boats of state), as well as many other boats from the Venetian rowing society. This procession recalls the merry welcome that the city prepared for the Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro, who came to Venice giving her island to the Serenissima. The procession is truly picturesque and evokes the grandeur of the Serenissima.
The races take place after the procession and are the climax of the competitive season for the people who row 'Venetian style', standing up. The winner of the 'Regata Storica' wins a place in the history of rowing and of the city and so explains the strong antagonism among the participants.
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