REGATA STORICA
(first Sunday in September)
Venice's most traditional celebration.It first started in 1315 to
celebrate the power of the Serenissima Repubblica.
 It
begins with a historic pageant down the Grand Canal, in memory of
Caterina Cornaro, the queen of Cyprus who came to Venice in 1489
to sign the document confirming the donation of her island to Venice.
A long line of rowing boats and "vogatori" in traditional
costumes go down the Canal Grande.
The races are the second and most important part of the event.
The order is as follows:
1- regata of the "giovanissimi" in su "pupparini"
with two oars
2- the women's regata in "mascarete" with two oars
3- regata delle caorline in "caorline" with six oars
4- regata of the champions in "gondolini" (small gondola-type
boats) with 2 rows
The most popular race is obviously that of the champions in their
extremely fast "gondolini", Formula 1 on the water!
 The
boats start at the Giardini della Biennale.
The most important part of the race takes place along the stretch
up to the entrance of the Canal Grande because the positions rarely
change after the Ponte delll'Accademia.
At the other end of the Canal Grande you can see one of the other
exciting moments of the race when the boats have to go around the
"paleto", a stake in the water, before going back to the finishing
line opposite Ca' Foscari. There is an enornmous "car"
is put up here as a platform for the VIP's and the prize giving
ceremony takes place here.
The first four of each race are given a sum of money as well as
the much coveted flags: red for first place, followed by white,
green and blue.
translated by C.Cawthra
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