- you are here: Home
- Hidden Treasures
- Easter in the Serenissima Republic of Venice

Easter in the Serenissima Republic of Venice
Easter is one of the most important celebrations for Christianity as it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus but over the centuries, this festival has become more important by combining religion with traditions, tales and folklore.
This is true especially for Venice, as the city, during the long period of the Serenissima, had the opportunity to integrate cultures and religions from all over the world, taking on practices and traditions previously unknown, such as, for example, the use of the egg, which it inherited from the Eastern world. Indeed, the egg has always been considered the symbol of life and regeneration and therefore it reflects the Easter message of the victory of life over death. The egg thus became the main ingredient of many recipes typical of Easter lunch, such as the fragrant fugassa (focaccia) and tagliatelle! And it is from this centuries-long and rooted culinary tradition that the famous sayings No xè Pasqua sensa fugassa' (not Easter without focaccia) and Aleluia, aleluia le parpadele se desgarbuia! (Alleluia, alleluia pappardelle are becoming untangled!) originate.
But besides sweet dishes and profound sayings, during the Serenissima Republic Easter Sunday in St Mark’s Basilica was also an occasion for ceremonial grandeur and magnificence with decorations, sacred music and the unveiling of the Doge’s treasure and the wonderful Pala d'Oro. However, the most awaited moment not only by the very rich but also the whole population, was the andata of the Doge, that is the moment the Doge headed a procession, accompanied by all the members of the Signoria, to the church of St. Zaccaria, where he was welcomed by the abbess of the adjoining monastery and the nuns. Here the Doge attended mass presided by the Patriarch and participated in a banquet prepared by the nuns in the convent. Starting from the 9th century during the aforementioned celebration, the Doge received as a gift the Corno dogale made by the sisters. According to legend and chronicles, the traditional gift of the Corno dogale started with the abbess Agostina Morosini who offered it for the first time to Doge Pietro Tradonico (836-864).
The sun warms up, the lagoon shines and the days become brighter... Easter is one of the most beautiful times to visit Venice! Come and discover the most beautiful and interesting local traditions by choosing from our many proposals!
- Google+
- tumblr
Search posts
Latest posts
Venice: Veronica Franco: the most talked-about woman in the Serenissima

Big Names
Among the various Venetian female figures of the past, certainly one of the most interesting and, for many reasons also modern, was Ver...
ViewVenice: 10 songs that will make you think of Venice

Did you know that...
Sometimes we hear the first few lines of a song and our minds are suddenly transported back to a place, a memory or a dream. We put tog...
ViewPadua: Vò Euganeo: a place to be discovered

Unknown places & works
In the last few months there has been much talking around the small town of Vò, in the province of Padua. It was at the center of ever...
ViewVenice: 10 must-see movies filmed in Venice

Film Locations
Venice is unique amongst world cities and every year it turns into a dream-like experience for scores of tourists thanks to its timeles...
ViewTop posts
Chioggia: The Valley of the Seven Dead Men

Mysteries & Legends
Halloween is just around the corner: have you already got into the fascinating terrifying aura of the scariest party of the year? No ye...
ViewVenice: The stone heart of St Mark’s Basilica

Unknown places & works
If you are visiting St Mark’s Basilica and have just abandoned the wonderful vision of the Pala d'Oro (which is a must-see), just a f...
ViewVenice: Map of Venice, what to know before you leave

Did you know that...
Did you know that Venice is not a single large island but rather a collection of 117 small islands linked together by over 400 bridges?...
ViewVenice: The origins of the Spritz cocktail

Local Traditions
Spritz, the typical Venetian aperitif, has nowadays become the iconic cocktail of Happy hour not only in Italy, but all over the world....
View