Feast of Sensa in Venice
The symbolic Marriage of Venice with the Sea!
The Sensa, Italian Feast of the Ascension, is part of cultural and historical heritage more intimately heard by the Venetians. Among the most ancient celebrations of the Serenissima it is important evidence of a plot occurred during centuries of religious, historical and mythological that summarize today in a symbolic Marriage of Venice with the Sea.
Renamed by many precisely for this reason Feast of the Sea, the Sensa celebrates its glory on the third Sunday of May, when Municipality of Venice, Department of Tourism, the Committee for the Celebration of Sensa and Coordination of Associations of Veneta Voga to organize a long and colorful procession of boats running from San Marco and stops near the mouth of the port of St. Nicholas (Lido) for the historic launch takes place, seal of the union between the lagoon and its city.
In ancient times the festival was accompanied by the famous Sensa Fair, an event prestigious European period of 15 days out that textiles, paintings and rare objects. The two most important historical events that have fuelled the centuries the anniversary of the Ascension Day are great military victories that inevitably have amplified the prestige and greatness of the Serenissima Republic. The first dates from 1000: the Doge left to defend the city Dalmatian against the attack of pirates Croats. The victory gave Venice all'Adriatico the free market of a time, especially beneficial to the Venetian Republic. One hundred seventy seven years after another victory, this time diplomatic, delivery to Venetians a reason to celebrate: the Doge can placate the frictions between the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Alexander III. The latter, as a reward, consecrates the supremacy of Venice to the sea.
Who would have ever said that water and foundations could boast a marriage in grand style? In Venice everything is possible. Especially if the water is the gulf lagoon and the foundations are those that support the most courted by tourists worldwide. Everything will except for the fact that live for about a millennium, not bad at this time. Not bad also the fact that every year punctually is celebrated their anniversary with a solemn procession.
This is the Feast of the Ascension, Sensa in Venice. The seventh Sunday after Easter the mayor renews the marriage of Venice to the sea with endless parade of boats, strictly rowing, driven by oarsmen in traditional costumes. From San Marco to the mouth of the port of Lido the banks with many people await the culminating event of the event: the launch takes place.
His parable retraces the time spent recalling the origin of the famous marriage, when the ring was taking similar trajectory in the launch of the Doge. Nestled in a big throne at the stern of the Bucentaur, the head of the Serenissima, for the occasion, hosted in his boat coated inside red velvet, ninety between the highest authorities of the Republic, which could enjoy the Venetian landscape thanks to forty-five windows at their disposal. "Faculty to marry the sea", this is the privilege granted by the Serenissima from the Pope, a proclamation of absolute international maritime hegemony of the city.
After being granted a dive in the past the procession arrives at the church of St. Nicholas and meets in a touching solemn mass, with a marriage remained faithful over the centuries, so abnormal for a stranger as instinctively sacred for a Venetian.
