Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

VENICE AND THE VENE T O THROUGH THE Y EAR  37

Average Daily Hours of Sunshine Sunshine Chart
Hours Hours Few days are entirely
10 10 without sunshine
8 8 in Venice and
the Veneto. The
6 6 amount of sunshine
progressively builds
4 4 up to midsummer,
when it is dangerous
2 2 to venture out
0 0 without adequate
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec skin protection.

Marriage with the Sea draws
huge crowds as it has every year
since Doge Pietro Orseolo
established the custom in
AD 1000. Once marked with all
the pomp that the doge and his
courtiers could muster, the
ceremony is not quite as
magnificent today, though its
symbolism remains valid: “We
wed thee, O Sea, in token of
true and lasting dominion”
are the words spoken by a local
digni tary, who then casts a laurel
crown and ring into the sea.
Spring wisteria in Verona’s Giardino Giusti (see p205)
April
Spring
Festa di San Marco (25 Apr).
This is the season when many The feast of St Mark, patron
fine gardens all over the Veneto saint of Venice, is marked by
and round Lake Garda come a gondola race across St Mark’s
into their own. As the snow Basin between Sant’ Elena
melts, there is time to catch (see p125) and Punta della
the brief glory of the Alpine Dogana (see p139). On this
meadows and the region’s occasion, it is traditional for
nature reserves, renowned Venetian men to give their
for rare orchids and gentians. wives or lovers a red rose.
Verona holds its annual cherry Celebrating La Sensa, Venice’s annual
market and many other May Marriage with the Sea
towns celebrate the arrival Festa della Sparesea (1 May).
of early crops. A delightful festival and regatta Vogalonga (Sun following La
for the new season’s asparagus Sensa). Hundreds of boats take
March is held on Cavallino, in the part in the Vogalonga (“Long
La Vecia (mid-Lent). Gardone lagoon where the crop is grown. Row”) from the Piazza San
and Gargnano, villages on Lake La Sensa (Sun after Ascension Marco to Burano (see p156) and
Garda (see p210), play host to Day). The ceremony of Venice’s back – some 32 km (20 miles).
festivals of great antiquity, Festa Medioevale del Vino
when the effigy of an old Soave Bianco Soave (16 May).
woman is burned on a bonfire. Sumptuous medieval-style
The so-called Hag’s Trials are celebration of the investiture of
an echo of the darker side the Castillian of Suavia. There is
of medieval life. a procession with a historical
Su e Zo per i Ponti (end Mar or theme, music in the town
early Apr). A marathon-style square, theatrical performances
race in Venice. Participants run and displays of various sports.
or walk through the city’s streets Valpollicellore (9 May). Festival
su e zo per i ponti (up and down Spring produce in the Rialto’s of local wine, with exhibitions,
the bridges). vegetable market in Cellore d’Illasi.

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