Summer cruises and Adriatic traditions

A boating holiday in the Italian waterways of the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions is not just about calm and relax, healthy sea breeze, and an adventurous experience. 

There are many events and attractions to enrich your houseboat holiday; folklore festivals take place everywhere along the waterways in peak season. Old towns are the perfect scenario for those events, attracting locals and tourists.  

The Marciliana Festival in Chioggia takes place in the second half of June, and is one of the most heartfelt and evocative events in Chioggia, a small island called the “little Venice”, a true jewel of Venetian architecture. The Contrade (teams) compete for the Palio (the trophy), by fighting and playing games in traditional costumes. By walking between the waving of flags, do not forget to test the fresh dishes of the local cuisine, with fishes directly coming from the Adriatic sea. The best way to enjoy this event by houseboat, is to moor and walk in the town centre. 

On the second weekend of July, a little norther than Chioggia, in the colourful village of Caorle, along the coast of the Adriatic, the “Burn of the bell tower” is staged. It is the most important Folklore Festival of the summer in this area, with great participation of people. The cylindrical bell tower is lighted of fiery red by the night, as required by the ancient marine tradition. All along the weekend the atmosphere is vibrant and electric, and the event is surrounded by exhibitions and attractions. You can moor the boat not far from the town centre and the festival can be reached in 10 minutes by foot. 

Save the date of the third weekend of July; the three days of the Redentore Folklore festival takes place in Venice. Everyone is aware of the phantasmagorical fireworks displayed in San Marco, the most important in Italy. But few people know that a floating bridge over 300 meters long is laid in the middle of the Venice lagoon, which allows you to walk on the water, and to reach the Basilica del Redentore on foot, without taking the vaporetto (water bus). On Sunday morning, then, the festival is on boats. The rowing teams do battle in the city canals in a sequence of competitive regattas that show the true culture of Venetian navigation skills. It is three days of great appeal for Venetians as it is the most famous and important weekend of the long summer in the Veneto capital. 

We then move in Friuli Venezia Giulia, in Lignano Sabbiadoro, where the beach is tinged with tricolor Italian flag, at the end of July. The Air Show brings the Frecce Tricolori to the stage. The squad of excellence of the Italian Air Force stages amazing evolutions with the planes whizzing a few meters away from each other. This Adriatic festival can be seen by the beach or by the Marano lagoon, by just standing on your boat deck. Mark this day on your agenda at the end of July and be in the right place at the right time, not to miss the show. 

These are the most important folklore summer festivals on the Adriatic coast of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Remember of those events when planning your holiday itinerary to enrich your vacation. Hire on the right week by departing from Casale sul Sile or Precenicco, based on your preference.