It's generally considered that Carnival originated as the commemoration of victory over Aquileia in 1162. Early celebrations were thought to be fairly limited with dancing and music in and around St. Mark's square. However over the coming centuries, the festivities would become increasingly lavish and extravagant to the point where the partying just never seemed to end - going on for weeks if not months. Today you will find live concerts and public parties organised in many of the city's squares as well as impressive private balls and costume parties in many of the city's most impressive palaces. A detailed day by day guide of what's on is available by following our link on the right to the official Carnival website.

Launched back in 2001, Venice's boat show has been growing rapidly year on year, and has made a real contribution towards pushing the city back onto centre stage within maritime circles. This year's edition looks set to be the biggest ever with almost 3000 square metres of boats and nautical equipment on display. The show's organisers are also looking to build on last year's expansion to locations closer to the historic heart of the city such as Arsenale. Further details can be had by following the link on the right to the show's official website.

This is one of the oldest Venetian festivities that takes it's origins from the commemoration of two important Venetian victories, one military and one diplomatic. On Ascension day in the year 1000, Doge Pietro Orseolo III successfully led the Venetian fleet to rid the Dalmatian coast of slavic pirates. This victory proved to be instrumental in setting the scene for the city's great economic, political and military rise to power. Early celebrations were thought to be relatively simple affairs with the city's Doge being escorted to the Lido mouth of the lagoon to symbolically offer a commemorative thanksgiving garland to the sea. In 1177, the Doge of the time Sebastiano Ziani, managed to successfully act as a mediator between the Byzantine emperor Federico Barbarossa and Pope Alexander III. Venice subsequently received the Pope's blessings who underlines the city's close ties with the sea. The celebrations and influx of pilgrims that follow coincide with the earlier Ascension day festivities and thus the joint celebration. Unfortunately today festivities are nowhere near as grand as they once were, although you can still witness the city's mayor and patriarch still symbolically bequeathing a wreath to the sea at Lido along with numerous rowing races.

This is a celebration of rowing and traditional Venetian watercraft. The event was set up in 1974 to try and bring to light the damage being done to the city by power boat wash. Proceedings get off to a start with a series of organised races which build up towards perhaps the most spectacular event - a non competitive regatta. This starts in the St. Mark's basin and is attended by hundreds and hundreds of traditional boats........a real spectacle to behold!

Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is a world renown international arts exhibition that encompasses contemporary art, architecture, cinema, music, dance and theatre. The contemporary art exhibition takes place once every two years and is based around a park located in the eastern part of the city, where arts councils from around the world exhibit in fixed pavilions. Detailed information as well as a calendar of individual events can be found on the Biennale's official website - please follow the link on the right.

The 'Redemption Feast' is widely considered to be the most heart felt festivity among modern Venetians. Back in the 16th century the city was suffering from a terrible plague which had already wiped out more than a third of the population. The situation became so bad that eventually the city's leaders decided that the only thing left to do was to call upon divine intervention with the promise that a church would be built if their prayers were answered. By July 1577, the plague had ran it's course and it wasn't long before building of the Redentore church had begun on the island of Giudecca. Once built, the doge declared that the 3rd sunday of every July would be set aside for pilgrimmage -and to facilitate this, ships would form a floating bridge to Giudecca from the main island of Venice. Today the celebration is truly spectacular. Already on the evening before the whole city becomes one big party with St. Mark's basin filling up with hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes, music, dancing, traditional cuisine, and then just to top it all shortly before midnight everyone is treated to a colossal fireworks display. On the Sunday morning there are numerous rowing boat races and of course the traditional pilgrimmage to the Redentore church.

Part of the Biennale, the Venice Film festival is the world's oldest dating back to 1934! The main screenings and awards ceremony take place on the island of Lido although many other events can be found elsewhere in the historic centre. Traditionally the festival has championed lesser known artists although in recent years you cannot help but notice the presence of many of the major hollywood stars! You will find a detailed rundown on day to day events by following the link on the right to the Film Festival's website.

Another truly unmissable event, the Historical Regatta celebrates Venice's unique relationship with the sea and is thought to date back as far back as the late 14th century. The regatta consists of a series of competitive races along the Grand canal which are categorised by boat type. Also to the public's delight, a non competitive procession of highly decorated period boats, and Venetians in costume, winds it's way down the Grand Canal to St. Mark's - the oarsmen rising their oars vertically in acknowlegdement to the cheers of the crowds.

Just less than 60 years after the terrible plague of 1575-1577, Venice was once again struck by terrible disease. Once again all pratical measures taken to improve hygiene in the city didn't seem to improve matters. Just as with Redentore, the senate decided that in order to save the city, a church should be built in return for an act of divine intervention. By 1631 it seemed that the worst was over, and by 1687 the new church (Salute) had been consecrated. Unfortunately almost 50,000 people (roughly a quarter of the city's inhabitants) were to die during the epidemic - marking a dark period in Venice's history. The celebration involves a pilgrimmage to the Salute church, where prayers are made and candles lit. To this day, the event has a highly religious and spiritual feel to it, perhaps emphasised by the relatively limited number of tourists present.