Venice events: Sensa Feast-day

The origins of the Sensa Feast-day lie in the history of Venice, in the episode when Doge Ziani acted as mediator between Pope Alexander III and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa on Ascension Day in 1177.

Thanks to the Serenissima Republic's diplomatic efforts to bring peace, the Pope bestowed many privileges on the city (the use of the sword, the candle, the seal, ensign, curial seat, silver trumpets, and the concession of an indulgence to Saint Mark on Ascension Day).

This included the act of marrying the sea (in Italian, Sposalizio del Mar), as a sign of Venice's domination at sea and official recognition of the Republic's predominance: the doge and his entourage embarked on the Bucintoro boat ( The name bucintoro is derived from the Venetian buzino d'oro, or golden boat). On reaching the mouth of San Nicolò port, the Doge threw a gold ring into the sea.
A huge and colourful procession of decorated boats with representatives of the guilds and the city's major corporations followed the Bucintoro.

Today a touch of historic re-evocation has been introduced, but the symbolism of the mystic marriage to the sea is still evident and valid in the Sensa Feast-day. On Ascension Day, the Mayor of Venice, civic dignitaries and religious and military representatives leave Saint Mark's Square and sail to the Port of S. Nicolò where the ritual ring throwing takes place.

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