"Festa della Sensa"

The Festa della Sensa is one of the most old ceremony of Venice. It opens the first week of September with a procession of more than 100 boats on which people parade with the most representative customs of the ancient city and of the North Italy. It commemorates two important events of the city. The first one is traced back to the year 1000, when the naval fleet leaded by Doge Pietro Orseolo, left on the Ascension Day to fight against the Dalmatian pirates who where threatening the Istria’ Coast. With the victory of the Serenissima, Venice started to spread its successful politic, commercial and military supremacy on the Adriatic Sea. The other important fact is dated 1177 when in Venice was signed a peace agreement between the Papacy and the Empire. For the important rule that Venice had, the Pope Alessandro III, as a mark of gratitude to the city, gave the Doge Ziani a blessed ring to religiously reinforce the sovereignty of Venice over the Sea as a man marries a woman and thus be her Lord. From this moment the myth of Serenissima as “queen of the Sea” became more popular.

The "Sensa" in our days

Nowadays, this important nuptial is solemnly remembered. Each year the Mayor, accompanied by religious, military and civil authorities is taken by boat from Saint Mark’s square to Saint Nicolò where he throws the ring into the water to symbolize the eternal union between Venice and the Sea.