Sunday in Venice was the 41st running of the Vogalonga. The Vogalonga started in 1974 as a race to celebrate Venetian style rowing. Since then it has become a non-competitive rowing regatta which attracts amateur and professional rowers from around the world.
Boats heading to the starting point of the Vogalonga.
The Vogalonga starts in front of the Ducal Palace at Piazza San Marco. Starting around sunrise, boats of all descriptions including gondolas, dragon boats, canoes, kayaks, skulls, and virtually every other type of rowing craft ever made could be seen heading along the smaller canals toward the Grand Canal basin. There they queued up waiting for the starting signal – the firing of a cannon at 9:00. The route of the regatta takes the rowers some 30 kilometers ending up in the Cannaregio sestiere – the northernmost of the 6 districts in Venice.
Giulio, Cheryl, John and Betty at San Marco ready for the start of the Vogalonga with Torre dell’Orologio in the background.
After the race began, we took a leisurely walk across Venice toward the Cannaregio Canal, the end of the Vogalonga route. Giulio provided local insight along the way. When we reached Cannaregio we were fortunate to find a canal-side table at a small bar where we could settle in to greet the first rowers to arrive at the finish line.
Cheryl and Betty having a glass of wine at La Vogalonga finish line.
Finishing the Vogalonga at Cannaregio Canal.
Dragon boat crew
As the boats headed toward the finish line they were cheered and applauded by the people standing and sitting along the canal. The Venetian rowers would return the applause with an oars up salute to their fans.
Cheering the rowers near the finish line.
The rowers respond to applause with Oars Up salute.
No Grandi Navi! The people of Venice have a love-hate relationship with large, ocean going cruise ships. Of course they are happy for the tourist traffic, but the size of the ships is out of proportion to the city and its architecture. There is a “No Big Ships” protest movement that was represented in the Vogalonga. In the picture you can also see the police escort for the protestors.
No Grandi Navi (No big ships) protestors.