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Venice: Rowing Lesson Through the Canals

Venice Fondamenta Gasparo Contarini, Venice, Veneto

Enjoying a gondola ride through the Venice canals is quite the experience, but have you ever wanted to commandeer one yourself? Treat yourself with a rowing lesson with Row Venice called vogata di sera. During the lesson you can learn the Venetian style of rowing — standing up and facing forward. Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning ...

180€

Venice: La Biennale

Giardini Arsenale Venice

The annual Biennale Art Festival takes over Venice this summer and fall, when countries from around the world set up pavilions to show off their home-grown contemporary artists.  The venerable festival is a parade of avant garde visual art: a major destination for the art elite and the cognoscenti. The event runs daily from May to November, though it is ...

25€

Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars)

Since 1993, vineyards all over Italy have opened their cellars on the last Sunday in May (or, in some regions, the first two days of June), encouraging direct contact with wine lovers. From tastings to tours in the vineyards, there will be many initiatives from the Alps to Mount Etna that will celebrate wine. Open Cellars has over time become ...

Venice: Festa del Redentore

Unnamed Venue Venice

The Redentore Feast (Feast of the Redeemer) is a deeply felt celebration in Venice as it combines religion with entertainment, thanks to the Saturday night phantasmagorical fireworks’ display attracting thousands of visitors: a kaleidoscope of shades, from a game of light and colors on the inimitable setting in St. Mark’s Basin, lights up the spires, domes and bell towers of the ...

Free

Goblets of Stars

Goblets of Stars (Calici di Stelle) is a wine event held annually across Italy on the night of and the week leading up to the Feast of San Lorenzo, a night that is historically lit up with shooting stars, interpreted as the tears of San Lorenzo. Evening concerts, parades, and events celebrating wine are held in piazzas across the country. ...

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Ferragosto

It's the summer and in August many Italians are looking forward to Ferragosto which starts on August 15th. It's known as a two-week vacation period with roots in ancient Rome. When Emperor Augustus invented the feriae Augusti to mark the end harvest he also made it a moment that signified a period of well-deserved rest. Later, during the fascist regime, this ...

Venice International Film Festival

Venice Lido Venice

Referred to as the Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematographica, this is the oldest film festival in the world, originating in 1932. Here's your chance to hob nob with the world's greatest movie stars, producers and directors. Films are shown throughout each day of the festival. While the international jury members get the best seats, there are seats available for the public. ...

Venice: Historic Regatta

Grand Canal Venice

The Grand Canal fills with exquisite 13-century boats and cavorting onlookers on this first Sunday of September. The regatta itself is four separate competitions, including a particularly compelling one between double-oared gondolas. Art displays, music, and celebrations abound among the boats and gondolas as well. Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since ...

Free

Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics

Venice Venice

The Regatta (Palio) of the Ancient Maritime Republics is a competition on eight-oared galleons among the crews of the cities of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice. The event is held in a different city each year, combining a fascinating historical and cultural message with a spectacular competition. These four cities have competed in the 2,000-meter race since 1956. Each of the four boats ...

Free

European Heritage Days

European Heritage Days began in France in 1954 as a way to celebrate the European continent. Celebrations are arranged across Italy, with different themes for each country every year. Free admission to museums, archaeological sites, concerts and theater invite Europeans and visitors to discover the heritage and culture of Italy. Note: Dates have not been confirmed; please check the event ...

Free