Venice's boat festival

The first Sunday in September sees the annual Historical Regatta take place along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The regatta consists of a series of boat races but it's the historical pageant that precedes them that attracts tourists and locals alike.

Patric Scherzinger's visiting from Germany and Martina Eckel works in Venice.

Patric Scherzinger: "It's really all about the presentation of the boats, the historic ones. The regatta itself, yes, is not that impressive. But the historical part with all the costumes and the preparation of the boats, that is of course ingenious, you really have to say that."

Martina Eckel: "Very beautiful as every year, and as a Venetian, it is always a wonderful experience every year to see it."

Dozens of sixteenth century style boats with gondoliers in costumes of the period carry the city's historic ruler - the Doge, his wife, as well as high-ranking Venice officials in the brightly coloured parade. The Historical Regatta commemorates the unique history of Venice - a city built on a group of 118 islands separated by canals and large expanses of water. The easiest way to get around has always been by boat.

Legend has it that the origins of the boat races date back to 942 CE when pirates kidnapped some Venetian women during a festival. The men gave chase in their boats and caught the pirates, releasing the women.

Local Lidiano Enzo feels that nowadays the regatta is a great way of promoting the city.

Lidiano Enzo: "We do these events to promote Venezia football and Venice because it is a unique city in the world and so it is beautiful."

Perhaps a gondola ride is more often considered to be a gentle, romantic ride under the city's many bridges with a singing gondolier. However, for French tourist Emmanuel Granat, the historical pageant embodies Venice.

Emmanuel Granat: "The boats are magnificent, the costumes are magnificent... There's an atmosphere, a little bit of music, it's Venice."

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