Thursday 2 September 2010

Historic Regatta Venice Live Webcam

Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the annual Historical Regatta comes to Venice.

As one of the most traditional amongst the venetian events, which first took place on 10th of January 1315, this extravagant event, organized in the Serenissima times to celebrate the military victories and to honour the foreign dignitaries, is now made up of two different parts: the historical parade and the rowing boat races with the climax being the champions´ race.

Unlike the regattas on the most popular lagoon boats, the Champions' race exalts the rowers technical abilities more than their power. Winning in Canalasso, as natives call the Grand Canal, is still today the most aspired wish of every racer.

Live Grand Canal Webcam Venice

Location info:

The Grand Canal is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses and private water taxis, but many tourists visit it by gondola.

The Grand Canal banks are lined with more than 170 buildings, most of which date to 13th/18th century and demonstrate the welfare and art created by the Republic of Venice. The noble venetian families faced huge expenses to show off their richness in suitable palazzos: this contest reveals the citizens’ pride and the deep bond with the lagoon. Amongst the many are the Palazzi Barbaro, Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' d'Oro, Palazzo Dario, Ca' Foscari, Palazzo Barbarigo and to Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, housing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The churches along the canal include the basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. Centuries-old traditions such as the Historical Regatta are perpetuated every year along the Canal.

Because most of the city's traffic goes along the Canal rather than across it, only one bridge crossed the canal until the 19th century, the Rialto Bridge. There are currently two more bridges, the Ponte degli Scalzi and the Ponte dell'Accademia. A fourth, controversial bridge (Ponte della Costituzione) designed by Santiago Calatrava was recently erected, connecting the train station to the vehicle-open area of Piazzale Roma. As was usual in the past, people can still take a ferry ride across the canal at several points by standing up on the deck of a simple gondola called traghetto.

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