July 19th - Redentore

The 'Redentore' unites Venice, both emotionally and literally, in this feast day of thanksgiving for their survival of the plague in 16th century. 

After three years of a terrible epidemic, Doge Sebastiano Venier fulfilled the vow (made by his predecessor Alvise Mocenigo) to build a temple of thanksgiving to the Redeemer on the Giudecca Island.  The commission for the work went to the architect Palladio who laid the first stone in 1579: the church was then consecrated in 1592.

On 21 July 1578, on the place where it had been decided to erect the temple, an altar with tabernacle was built in the open air and in four days a bridge consisting of 80 galleys was laid across the Giudecca Canal.

A huge crowd of Venetians, who had survived the terrible epidemic, crossed it in the knowledge that bereavements and misfortunes were over. When the temple was built, the Doge decreed that the third Sunday in July should be set aside for pilgrimage. Very soon the people, afraid of not finding room at the ceremony, would arrive at the Giudecca the evening before and spend the whole night there to then await the sunrise on the Lido.

Despite the fact that more than four centuries have passed since it began, the Redentore Feast-day continues to be held in the same places and with the same procedures.

The city is united to the Giudecca by a bridge which crosses the Giudecca Canal and is mounted on modern floating platforms.  St. Mark's Basin there are about 1,500 boats so more or less 30,000 people watch events from boats and from canal banks.

The festivity reaches its climax towards midnight with fireworks that are set off from pontoons spread along a 400 meter stretch between St. Mark's Basin and the Giudecca Canal.  Since 1978 they have been accompanied by music and are unanimously considered to be among the most spectacular in the world. Once the fireworks are over, the boats head for the Lido where, in keeping with tradition, their occupants await the sunrise.

Guests of the Hotel Cipriani can enjoy the Redentore from the perfect location of the Hotel on the tip of the Giudecca Island.  An evening of entertainment and feasting is enjoyed by the pool area.