The Regata Storica is the main event in the annual “Voga alla Veneta” rowing calendar. This unique sport has been practiced in the Venetian lagoon for thousands of years and today it is particularly well-known for the spectacular historical water pageant that precedes the race. It takes place on the first Sunday of September.
The first historical record of the Regata Storica dates back to the mid-13th century, when it was part of the “Festa delle Marie” celebrations. However, it is likely that regattas existed long before this, as Venice has always been a seafaring city and training reserves of oarsmen was a prime necessity . The modern regata dates back to 1841, when the organizational expenses moved back from the private to the public sphere . Today, the most popular race is the gondolini regatta.