Which one called Giudecca is the widest island in Venice: it is separated from the historical centre by the namesake canal and it is part of the sestiere of Dorsoduro.

Because of the absence of a bridge, you can reach this island only by ferry boat (vaporetto).

Since more than 500 years, in July this place is enlivened by the traditional Festa del Redentore (Feast of the Saviour). The Church of the Saviour (Chiesa del Redentore) is one of the most important Palladio’s masterpieces: it was built during the XVIth century in order to solemnly invoke the end of the pestilence that was flogging the city.

 

This feast aims at celebrating the end of that terrible period and, in fact, it occurs the third Sunday of July (the day in which in 1577 the Doge Sebastiano Venier announced the end of the pestilence) even if celebrations start the day before, on Saturday. 

The church services take place in Sunday and they finish with the gondola regatta called the Regata del Redentore.

 

But the most spectacular celebrations occur on Saturday.  During the sunset, all the decorated boats arrive in the San Marco dock and in the Canal of the Giudecca waiting for the traditional breathtaking firework show that enlightens the Venetian sky.

 

 

This is an unique feast that attracts every year thousands of tourists that spend the night eating on boat surrounded by this beautiful atmosphere.

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