The GONDOLA REGATTAS in Venice

... and on a Fat Thursday too, everybody in!

The main Regata del Doge vas usually done in the first week of September, but other kind of competitions went on all the time in the laguna, on Fat Thurdsay too, as it can well be imagined.

Here is the men regatta description:

"Sogliono in varie sorte di barche con diversá quantitá di remi spesse volte i barcaruoli di Venezia gareggiare trá loro e tal'hora anco per premy proposti dal Prencipe si suol vedere questo spettacolo maritimo com molta dilettatione."

"It is usual for the Venetian boatmen to compete among them, sometimes also for some prizes that were offered by the Prince, and it was usual to watch this pleasant maritime show with delight."

And the women's regatta description, from a similar engraving by Giacomo Franco, runs like this:

"Le donne habitanti i lidi circostanti á Venezia concorrono parimente á cosí fatta festa vogando insieme, et contendendo i premy con universal piacere de riguardanti."

"The women living in the Venice area would also take part to the celebration, rowing all together, and competing to win the prizes with much delectation of the public.