La Festa del Redentore in Venice, Italy
Last Updated on May 27, 2025 by admin
If you’re visiting Venice, Italy over the summer, you might get the chance to attend one of the city’s most beloved festivals: La Festa del Redentore, or the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer. What’s it all about? I’ve got all the details for you in this post, along with some photos from the times that I’ve attended over the years.
Are you ready? Andiamo!
What does La Festa del Redentore celebrate?
La Festa del Redentore is a Venetian festival that commemorates the end of the plague. Venice lost 50,000 of its own to the disease, and when the city was finally freed of it, the Doge at the time, Alvise Mocinego, decided to build a new church in gratitude to the Redeemer (Jesus) to thank him for ending this dark period in Venice’s history.
When is La Festa del Redentore?
The festival is celebrated every year on the third Saturday and Sunday in July.
The history of the festival
On July 20, 1577, a bridge made of boats was set up in order to allow people to get from Venice to the island of Giudecca, where the church of the Most Holy Redeemer (Santissimo Redentore, in Italian) was being constructed.
What events take place during the celebration?
Venice truly comes alive during the two-day celebration. There are various events that take place over the weekend.
Walk across the floating bridge
Every year for la Festa del Redentore, the city sets up a series of floats which allow people to walk across the water from Fondamenta delle Zattere to Giudecca island, just as the Venetians did in 1577.
See the fireworks on Saturday
The fireworks normally shoot off around 11:30pm from the Bacino San Marco. I’ve been researching the best spots to view the fireworks from, and they seem to be Giudecca, Riva degli Schiavoni (right in front of the Bacino San Marco) and Punta della Dogana.
Of course, the very best option would be to watch from a boat. Vivo Venetia offers a variety of options for experiencing Redentore by boat.
Watch the regattas on Sunday
There are three boat races on Sunday afternoon, starting at 4pm in the Giudecca canal. The first two are for children. The final one is between gondolas.
Attend a religious celebration
Because la Festa del Redentore has its origins in a religious feast, there is a mass at 7pm on Sunday evening at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer (Santissimo Redentore) on Giudecca island.
Enjoy the party!
Venice can be really quiet at night, but it isn’t during Redentore! It’s really fun to see the city crawling with people into the wee hours of the morning.
You can bring your own alcohol, but there’s no glass allowed in Piazza San Marco, and in years past, cans have also not not allowed in the main piazze, so plan ahead.
After the fireworks, a big crowd moves from Venice to Lido to carry on the party for the rest of the night, with dozens of people sleeping on the beach. While not the most comfortable situation, it certainly makes for a great story!
Tips for doing the Lido thing, based on my experience of doing it in 2017: Pack emergency cold-weather gear, something to puncture your ear drums with in case of unfortunate music, wear your largest pair of underpants to prevent sand from entering your nooks and crannies, and don’t expect to get any sleep.
If you go to Redentore, let me know what you think in the comments, or feel free to reach out with questions!
Want more Venice tips?
Check out this post on how to see the best view in the city.
Here’s one on some great little bacari, where you can snack on cicheti and drink spritz like the locals do!
Here are five sights that are off the beaten path in Venice.
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