Historical Regatta
Naziv
Historical Regatta
Kategorija
Klasifikacija prema RKD
Država
Opis programa
In a city built on the water of a lagoon like Venice, it was inevitable, almost "physiological", that rowing became essential for its inhabitants for all daily activities: fishing, hunting, trade, travel and much more. It was unavoidable that forms of competitions between rowing boats developed from the first settlements and story, the events that with the affirmation of the economic power of the Republic of Venice took on ever faster aspects and linked to both political and religious celebrations. The numerous annual regattas, even for women, were transformed from the sixteenth century into real city festivals preceded by sumptuous processions on the water, which involved all the citizens; on such occasions poems and pamphlets were printed (among these we recall the late nineteenth century poems by Riccardo Selvatico). The so-called annual historical regatta was born in 1841 by royal decree of the then Austrian government. As still today, it was disputed along the Grand Canal starting from the San Marco basin and the participants were initially the most skilled gondoliers with their gondolas. Subsequently, the winners of minor regattas were allowed to participate, who in the event of winning received in addition to a monetary reward and personal prestige, also the concession of the license for entry into the category of gondoliers. Nowadays the competition takes place on the first Sunday of September and is divided into seven different categories among which the most awaited is the one called the regatta of champions which is fought between the boats called "gondolini" (small gondolas) each with two crew members. Those who win the regatta in this category for five consecutive times are also awarded the title of "King of the oar" and, confirming the ancient custom, still today the strongest gondoliers receive the honor.
