Sea Wedding
The Ancient Rite of the Wedding of the Sea
from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May
Exhibitions, culture, gastronomy for a weekend of tradition.
Host city for 2024: Cortina d'Ampezzo
How did the ancient rite come about?
The story, from which the celebration is inspired, features Pietro Barbo, Bishop of Cervia, who later became Pope Paul II.
On Ascension Day 1445, while returning from Venice, he was surprised by a storm at sea. The story tells that the bishop calmed the waters, thus bringing ship and crew to safety, after having thrown his ring into the sea.
Even today, Cervia relives the atmosphere, preserving its memory and traditions.
- Find out how the Sea Wedding came about
Programme 2024
EXHIBITIONS
Banksy in Cervia
SALT WAREHOUSE TOWER
every day until June 2nd
Monday to Thursday 3-8 pm
Friday 3-11 pm
Saturday and pre-holidays 10 am-11 pm
Sundays and public holidays 10 am-9 pm
Tickets at Magazzino del sale or ciaotickets.
Photography exhibition organised by the Cervese Photography Group
SALA RUBICONE - Via Evangelisti
from 8 pm to 10 pm
The Colours of the Thistle - Painting and Projects for the Future
MUSA SALT MUSEUM
Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 2.30 pm to 7 pm
Photography exhibition by Varabei Hanna on the beauty of nature
ARTEMEDIA HALL
from 6 pm to 10 pm
FOOD AND WINE
from 10th to 12th May
Discover the products of the Adriatic Sea, fish and Cervia mussels, and get to know the area's typical recipes
A sea that unites, food stand
ALIPRANDI SQUARE
Friday from 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 12 am to 7 pm
Typical local seafood dishes organised by Circolo Pescatori La Pantofla.
Friday 10th May
Concert for the 580th anniversary of the Marriage of the Sea
THEATRE OF CERVIA - Via XX Settembre, 125
9 pm
The Grande Orchestra Città di Cervia brings its repertoire to the stage of the historic theatre named after Walter Chiari.
Saturday 11th May
Wedding Ring Ceremony
PIAZZA GARIBALDI
11 am
Exchange of gifts with the host city Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Special participation by Maria Pia Timo and Vito as the Lady of the Ring and the Podestà.
Presentation of the International Leonardo Award "The Immortal Light".
Music by La Corelli.
In case of bad weather the ceremony is in the Municipal Theatre Walter Chiari - Via XX Settembre, 125
Sunday 12th May
Ring Trophy
PIAZZALE DEI SALINARI
10 am
Archery tournament
Organised by the Compagnia Arcieri Città di Rimini Seven Arrows
Cervia in the past between tradition and folklore
GARIBALDI SQUARE
4 pm
Performance by the group of flag-wavers, musicians and standard bearers, representing the Palio del Niballo di Faenza, in collaboration with the Municipality of Faenza, and parade of figures in historical costumes.
RITES OF THE RING
Traditional Mass of the Ring
GARIBALDI SQUARE
5 pm
Archbishop Lorenzo Ghizzoni blesses the ring that will be thrown into the sea.
Musical accompaniment by the Ad Novas Choir.
Ring Parade
Departure from GARIBALDI SQUARE
Solemn histoic parade accompanying the Blessed ring to the Sea.
Prayer and wreath-laying in memory of those fallen at sea
LUNGOMARE GABRIELE D'ANNUNZIO, Monumento ai Caduti in mare
5.30 pm
Embarkation for the ceremony and exit to the sea
CANAL PORT
6 pm
Motorboat tickets
- Full price € 5.00
- Reduced (children up to 10 years) € 3.00
- Only available online
- Tickets can be purchased no later than 3.00 pm on Sunday.
Boarding from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm Cervia's canal port (motorship New Ghibli, Tritone and Super Tayfun)
All proceeds will be donated to charity.
In the event of bad weather there is no refund.
INFORMATION:
IAT Torre San Michele office - via Evangelisti 4, Cervia, tel. 0544 974400 - info@discovercervia.it
It will also be possible to follow the ceremony live on Facebook and on the maxi screen on the Lungomare D'Annunzio - Tourist Port area and in Piazza Garibaldi
Cockaigne on the water
CANAL PORT
9.00 pm
A typical competition of skill among young people from Cervia who compete in a race along the grease-covered pole sloping over the canal port.
Sensia Bread and Spinster's Cake
The Pane della Sensia is a tradition linked to the Marriage of the Sea. It is a round-shaped bread with a cross design on its surface.
The recipe of the Dolce delle Zitelle (Spinsters' Cake) was developed a few years ago by the Cervia Hotelier Institute IPSEOA, after a study on the cuisine of the past.
These traditional Cervia classics will be on sale from 6th to 12th May.
Bakery:
- Forno Doganieri - Cervia, Via Grazia Deledda 2/a
- Forno Giuliani - Milano Marittima, Viale Dante 75
- Forno Martini - Cervia, Via Stazione 16
- Forno Zamagni - Tagliata, Via Sicilia 8
Programmes and dates are subject to change
When
from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May 2024
Luogo
Town historical centre and canal harbour
Cervia - Piazza Garibaldi, Viale Roma, Via Nazario Sauro
Official Tourist Information Site of Cervia