The Vogalonga boat race is one of Venice’s biggest events and it takes place on May 23rd, coinciding with the old ceremony of the Doge’s marriage to the sea.

More than 5,000 rowers take to St Mark’s basin and paddle through the city’s famous waterways.

Venice has around 150 canals that are connected by 409 interlocking bridges and there are over 3,000 alleyways on the 117 small islands. The race involves a 30 km journey across a lagoon to the island of Burano and back again.

Originally conceived as a protest against the motor boat traffic that endangered the city’s waterside buildings through wash and pollution, the race is an important event in this part of the country and could give anyone looking for property in Italy a better insight into Mediterranean life.

According to Travel Lady, over 15 million tourists visit Venice each year, despite the city only having 63,000 residents.

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