next in Pisa: May 2002
The History of the Regatta
The
idea of an historical festival which could evoke the shining exploits
from the epoch of the Ancient Italian Maritime Republics,
was
independently thought of by two enthusiasts, Mirro Chiaverini
of Pisa
at the end of the 1940's.
The official charter for the race was instituted by the Regatta Board of
the four Maritime Republics in Amalfi on December 10, 1955.
From
then on, every year, the festival, which consists of an historical parade
and a rowing contest, takes place in turn in one of the four Ancient
Maritime Republics.
The Regatta
The
regatta is a rowing contest using huge galleys constructed by Alvio
Vaglini according to twelfth century models. Each galley is propelled
by eight rowers and guided by a helmsman. The four vessels, each with
fixed seats, a length of eight meters, and a weight of 760 kilograms,
were blessed by the Venetian Patriarch, Angelo Roncalli and
launched
from the banks of the Royal Gardens on )June 9, 1956.
The hulls of the ships are painted, according to the traditional colors of
the four maritime cities: Amalfi, blue; Pisa,
red; Genoa, white; and
Venice, green. Each boat has its republic's flag hanging
at its stem, and
a figurehead it its prow. For its figurehead, Amalfi uses a winged
horse
and a mermaid, which is one of the principle motifs used by medieval
galleys; Genoa, on the other hand, uses a dragon evoking
its protector,
St. George; Pisa shows the imperial, Germanic eagle, in memory
of the
loyal help which the Tuscan Republic had offered the Swabians and the
Ghibellines; Venice presents the lion of St. Mark, which
is the symbol
of its holy protector.
The regatta is run over a straight 2000 meter long course.
In Amalfi
the race begins from Cape Vettica, from a promontory which contains a
sixteenth century vice regal tower.
The course then continues along the
sinuous western coast to its end in Amalfi; here, the finish fine is set in
front of the Great Marina with the suggestive setting of Mount Areo
with the Ziro Tower, St. Lawrence of the Plain la former monastery),
the Cape Cross Quarter and the former convent and Tower of
St. Francis in the background.
