Normal sleek racing shells getting boring? Tired of always facing backwards? Look no further than the Grand Canal!
Held annually on the first Sunday of September, the Regata Storica (“historic regatta”) is one of Venice’s oldest and most important events of the year. The event pays homage to a rich tradition of seafaring and maritime trade that has shaped the city of canals since the Middle Ages.
In the depths of cold winter training (at least in the UK), nothing sounds nicer than a late summer trip to Italy and an opportunity to witness history unfolding right before my eyes.
The boats and the rowing style
Where a visiting tourist might take a ride in a traditional gondola, there are actually several different types of boats used across the regatta’s events. Most are flat-bottomed and rudder-less to navigate the narrow canals, and the widely recognised gondola is just one among more than 50 different types.
On race day, the children—some younger than 10 years old—start in a light sandolo boat called a mascareta. The teens then speed by in a pupparin (traditionally used by maritime guards) and the six-oared caorlina, its shape unchanged since the 16th century and originally used for fishing and transporting fresh produce from the islands into the city. University students race in eight-oared galeoni boats, and the day culminates in the highly anticipated gondolini regatta. This boat was designed and built in 1825 exclusively for the Regata Storica.
You’ll likely notice the different rowing technique immediately: pushing a slim wooden oar from standing versus pulling from a seated position, as is normal to sliding seat rowing. A recent Olympic feature followed athletes Fabio Boscolo and Michele Ghezzo from the Canottieri Giudecca, which teaches both voga veneta and the more common “British style” used in international competition. Voga alla veneta is the style of rowing used in traditional Venetian rowing boats: facing forward, with a unique oarlock called the forcola made of carved walnut or cherry wood. The person in the back – the poppière – steers, while the person in the front puts down the power.
Despite looking different, the core of the rowing technique will be familiar: most importantly, “the coordination of the movements – and secondly, the strength and the brain together,” to use Ghezzo’s words. This cooperation, determination, and drive to get to the finish line is key, where prior planning and mental preparedness remain pivotal to the success of each team.
Image credit: Marco Fogliazza
History on one’s doorstep
The modern Regata Storica is a celebration of history, beginning with a parade by historic boats in period costume led by a 17-metre boat called the Serenissima, which represents the official state vessel of the ruling Doge. Two actors, playing the Doge and Caterina Cornaro (former queen of Cyprus), are joined by trumpeters on the Serenissima, with other boats and gondolas of the Venetian rowing associations following in turn.
The race itself is eight kilometres, starting from Paluo di Sant’Antonio (today Giardini) and winding through Rialto with a full turn halfway through. I imagine approaching the finish line, down the Grand Canal to Ca’Foscari, brings the same excited energy as the final stretch along the Henley enclosures – tense, jubilant, and everything in between. And it seems that the elation of a good race and its accompanying celebrations transcends rowing cultures; when asked how they were going to celebrate a win at the regatta, one athlete exclaimed, “A lot of beer….Beers! A lot of beers!”
Artists such as Canaletto, Bellotto, and Vanvitelli captured the buzz and excitement of a day out at the races in paintings such as A Regatta on the Grand Canal– not too dissimilar to the lively hum of a crowded riverbank at regattas today. These depictions of maritime Venice highlight that the Regata Storica is not a mere modern spectacle.
Image: A Regatta on the Grand Canal (Canaletto, c. 1740)
While it draws tourists from around the world, the event lies close to the heart of Venetian oarspeople; Ghezzo describes how “the lagoon is a beautiful place for training, and it’s something that I’ve enjoyed doing since I was a child.” The canals have been the lifeblood of the city’s economy and transportation network, and remain a crucial part of Venetian cultural heritage. The Regata Storica honours that legacy, celebrating the craftsmanship of the boats, the history of the city, and the skill of their oarspeople, delighting visitors and residents alike for over 800 years.
To the best of my knowledge, the Regata Storica is not open to international crews. If you’re looking to shake up the racing calendar, check out the Vogalonga (not updated for 2026) or this Dragon Boat Festival.
Image credit: Regata Storica Venezia
