Festa Della Sensa – The Marriage of the Sea Ceremony

Venice is the city of romance. With the vibrant colors, blue water, and picturesque views, everything is mesmerizing and romantic in Venice. Venice is represented as a beautiful young woman. Even the city has its companion – the sea. And for centuries, people have celebrated the wedding ceremony between the Venice city and the sea, known as “The Festa Della Sensa”.

Interesting right! There’s so much to know about the unique wedding ceremony, so let’s start with the story behind the wedding.

Venice and the Sea: The Story Behind the Wedding

“La Festa Della Sensa,” or The Marriage of the Sea ceremony, is a gaudy celebration that happens every year where the city of Venice renews its vows with its eternal companion. 

Doge Pietro II Orseolo started the tradition by getting into the boat and throwing the ring into the Adriatic Sea water to get a submissive wife, saying, “Desponsamus te, mare, in signum veri perpetuique domini”, which means “I wed thee, O Sea, in token of true and lasting dominion”.

Since the tradition of the Venice and the sea wedding began about 1000 A.D., it started grabbing the attention of the artists from that time, and we can see that even today in their historical arts. 

However, as time passed, the rituals stopped until 1965, when people again started to celebrate the city’s heritage. It is believed that there’s no other place that has the same roots with the Sea as Venice does.

Food and Boating at the Festa Della Sensa

The Feast: Maritime Feast with Gondola Ride

It is an annual ceremony to commemorate the city’s customs and traditions where you can taste the authentic dishes or “Venice’s maritime feast”. You can take a private ride on a traditional narrow and long Venetian boat known as “Gondola”. You can also visit the Doge’s palace or take a historical tour of the city.

The Venetian Rowing

The Venice wedding begins with a water parade of the heavily decorated traditional rowing boats with colorfully dressed rowers, showcasing Venetian people’s artistic tradition. While, “Serenissima,” a boat leads the parade carrying the doge and other dignitaries with rowers and trumpeters dressed in historical attire, followed by a Venetian rowing competition and further aquatic challenges.

When is Marriage of the Sea Celebrated?

The marriage of Venice and the sea is celebrated to commemorate the two most important events of the history of Venice. On May 9, 1000, A.D., the first one occurred when the Doge Pietro Orseolo II defeated the Slavic pirates to help Dalmatians. 

The second is associated with the 1177 A.D., when Doge Sebastiano Ziani started governing Venice after ending a century-old diatribe between the papacy and the imperial region. The wedding ceremony between the sea and the city of Venice took place this year, and then it continued.

The Festa Della Sensa, or “The Feast of the Ascension”, will be celebrated on May 29, 2022. The locals and tourists relive the long and centuries-old history of the Serenissima Republic and its close relationship with the sea through this gaudy ceremony. 

Also, you can enjoy the customs and traditions of Venetian rowing. However, the dates can vary, so confirm the dates prior to planning your trip or staycation to Venice.

Program Details for Festa Della Sensa 2022

You can follow the below program details for Festa Della Sensa 2022:

At 10:30 A.M., the ceremony of the marriage of the sea will take place in front of the Church of San Nicolò del Lido.

At 11:00 A.M., the patriarch of Venice, Francesco Moraglia, will celebrate a holy mass in the church.

Conclusion: “La Festa Della Sensa” Reminds Us of the Tie between Venice and the Sea

The traditional Venice and the Sea marriage ceremony is a commemoration of the two most important historical events. It also symbolizes the intimate yet powerful relationship between the city and the water, and it is an important reminder of the relationship between the local ecosystem and the environment. This celebration shows us how important it is for us to stay connected to our roots and embrace our culture.

Book Fleets for Your Trip to Venice with Benvenuto Limos

Whether it is the Venetian rowing competition, the delicious feast, or the Sea wedding itself, there’s so much to see and enjoy at the Festa Della Sensa ceremony. Are you excited to be a part of it? If yes, have you planned your trip or staycation to Venice yet? If not, then you can plan your trip today with us.

We at Benvenuto Limos offer you a private guided tours package to Italy skillfully planned by our experienced tour planners. Whether it is a city tour or a shore excursion, we can provide you custom-made luxurious tour to your desired holiday destination. For us, you are special, and we try our best to meet your travel needs and desires.

While we help plan your trip, we also provide English-speaking chauffeur services and transportation services to make your trip a memorable one. We customize your private tour with proper planning. We provide the best fleet services: E-Class, S-Class, V-Class Mercedes, Sprinter Minibus and Van, and V.W. Caravelle while keeping your safety, security, and comfort on priority.

Get ready to have one of the best experiences of your life. Be quick as the Festa Della Sensa is on May 29. So, plan your trip before running out of time. We are ready to welcome you with our best services!