words by Gabi Logan
This Sunday, the 6th of May 2012, Venice’s Grand Canal will be filled with an unusual cargo: a floating rose garden. Entitled “Un giardino di rose sull’acqua” (A rose garden on the water), the blooming procession is organized by poet Dania Lupi in conjunction with city and regional authorities.
Gondolas and caorlinas, boats for six rowers historically used to transport produce, overflowing with roses will set off at 10.00 am from Tronchetto Island, the beginning of the Grand Canal, where the Liberty Bridge connects to the mainland.
From there, the floating procession will move down the city’s main thoroughfare, stopping periodically along the way to honour the event’s sponsors, including the Mayor of Venice at Ca’ Farsetti.
At noon, the parade will pause along the Riva degli Schiavoni for “Vogalosport”, the first annual Venetian sports festival. Sporting societies from all around Venice have been invited to participate in an “Olympic” parade in Piazza San Marco and display their skills in group demonstrations.
The procession will conclude at St. George’s Island at 4.00 pm with rose garlands for participants. The Monastery of St. George will then celebrate a special mass in honour of the event, followed by a toast to “the flowering of the May roses”.
“Un giardino di rose sull’acqua” began in 2011, brainchild of Dania Lupi, whose book of poetry Nel giardino presente delle rose won the National Female Writing Literature Prize in 2010.
Last year’s procession escorted 2100 rose bushes to Foscarini high school to start a rose garden for the students there to tend. The event was held on the 28th of May 2011 to coincide with the Feast of Saint Rita, saint of roses.
