The history

The idea of the Ancient Italian Maritime Republic Regatta came into being in 1954 with the aim of recalling, by means of a typically maritime manifestation, important people and events of the glorious history of the same free Republics.
In 1955 the first experimental edition of the Regatta, which was contended in "gozzi" with four oarsmen, took place in Genoa, while in 1956, the current rowing conpetition had its real beginning in Pisa, preceded by the first parade of the Pageant of four different episodes in the history of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice. We believe that this is a unique case where a historic-agonistic manifestation has, in such a short time, become so resoan both nationally and internationally, and has interested hundreds of thousands of citizens of every category, winning unanimous approval of the national and foreign press.
This manifestion has been successful right from the first edition because it contains, and is based on elements, which stimulate a fond interest in the townsfolk, that is, the remembrance of and reference to important eras and places in the history of the nation; the choreographic side bring represented by the splendid costumes warn by almost four hundred participants in the Pageant; and finally the athletic side where the crews of the four teams who repropose with diligence and fervour the ancient feats of the forefathers of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice, demonstrate how well the oarsmen of the four cities can perform.
The four boats, which have different colours and figure-heads: Amalfi: blue with a winged horse; Genoa: white with a griffin; Pisa: purple with an Eagle; Venice: green with a lion, were disigned by Prof. Vaglini of Pisa and built in wood, in the boat yard of the Cooperativa Gondolieri di Venezia in St. Marco. Now the race in contended in fibreglass galeons with eight oarsmen and a cox. These boats were built by Cantieri Nautica C/4 of Roncade and are of the same shape, structure of hull, helm and superstructure. Characterized by fixed seats, their minimun weight is of about 800 kilogrammes; the crew wear costumes of their respective Republics. The course of the race is 2000 metres in a straight line and while the race takes place on the sea in the other cities, in Pisa it is set on the River Arno with the teams moving against the current. The manifestation ends with the awarding of the trophy, the standard of 1st prize and a gold medal to the winning crew. The trophy, which represents a medieval galleon, is held for one year by the city whose team wins the Regatta, and then is returned and reoffered as the prize in the successive edition.
On 9/6/1956 in Venice, on the shore of the Royal Garden's the baptism and the launching of the boats took place in an evocative ceremony, with the solemn presenceful this excellency Angelo Roncalli, then Patriarch of Venice and successively elected Papa John XXIII. Besides the yearly editions of the Regatta, which are held in turns in the four cities, there are also extraordinary edition: in 1961 a representation of the four Republics in Pageant costumes posticipated in the Manifestation in Turin to celebrate the centenary of the Unity of Italia. In 1975 the Republics of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice with typical delegations, were chosen to represent Italy at the International Oceanographic Exhibition in Okinawa in Japan. In 1983 a rowing competition for galleons took place in London and the crews of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice raced against four selected teams from the local municipality, while in 1988 an extraordinary edition was held in Bari. Every year the manifestation is honoured by the patronage of the president of the Republic, the presence of numerous government authorities and sometimes the head of state himself. At the XXXVIII Regatta in Amalfi, held 11th July 1993, the then President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Giorgio Napolitano, besides numerous politicians and representatives of Regional and Provincial institutions were present. In all previous editions held in Amalfi, the Regatta has been followed by numerous journalists and special correspondents fron the main daily newspapers and magazines, while full television coverage has been made by the RAI and other national and foreign broadcasting stations. This Committee attaches great importance to the Regatta 1997 which will involve not only Amalfi, but also the whole Amalfitan coast, with predictable positive effects both on the image and on the general economy of the entire area. On June 1st this year, recalling the historic presence of Amalfi, the smallest but the most ancient of the Maritime Republics, in trade and cultural movement towards Mediterrenean countries, the Regatta will after the occasion of reafferming this little town's incisive image, which is still present in the world, with all its rightful patrimony and business ingenuity.