Sea Wedding
The Ancient Rite of the Wedding of the Sea
Friday 30th May - Sunday 1st June 2025
Exhibitions, culture, gastronomy for a weekend of tradition.
Host city for 2025: Pinzolo - Madonna di Campiglio
Ilary Fontana and Serio Goffi, both from the Cerviaman sports group, will lead the historical procession.
How to watch the event:
--> two screens, one in Piazza Garibaldi and one near the Tourist Port, on the D'Annunzio Promenade, where the event filmed for live Facebook coverage will be broadcast.
--> board the motor vessels accompanying the procession at sea
MOTOR VESSEL TICKET
to attend the ceremony at sea on Sunday 12th May
LANDING Porto Canale - Cervia side
from 5 to 5.30 p.m.
Scheduled departure at 6 p.m.
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 2025
Friday 30th May
Concert for the 581st anniversary of the Marriage of the Sea
Piazza Garibaldi
9 p.m.
The Grande Orchestra Città di Cervia brings its repertoire to the stage of the historic square in Cervia.
In case of bad weather, the concert will be held at the Walter Chiari Municipal Theatre.
Saturday 31st May
Wedding Ring Ceremony
PIAZZA GARIBALDI
11 p.m.
Exchange of gifts with the host city Pinzolo-Madonna di Campiglio.
Presentation of the Cervia athletes who will play the role of the Lady of the Ring and the Podestà: Ilary Fontana and Serio Goffi, belonging to the Cerviaman sports group.
In case of bad weather the ceremony is in the Municipal Theatre Walter Chiari - Via XX Settembre 125
Sunday 1st June
Ring Trophy
PIAZZALE DEI SALINARI
10 a.m.
Archery tournament
Organised by the City of Rimini Archers Company named Seven Arrows
Sea and Fishing' heritage walk
Meeting point at San Michele Tower
10.30 a.m.
organised by the F.E.S.T.A Association
Cervia in the past between tradition and folklore
GARIBALDI SQUARE
4.00 p.m.
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
4.30 pm 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
5.15 pm
Procession in historical costume through the streets of the centre to the Lungomare (waterfront promenade) and the canal port.
Special participation by Ilary Fontana and Serio Goffi as the Lady of the Ring and the Podestà.
Cockaigne on the water
CANAL PORT
9.00 p.m.
Embarkation for the ceremony and exit to the sea
from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. - scheduled departure at 6 p.m.
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
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. +39 0544 974400 - info@discovercervia.com
Programmes and dates are subject to change
When
Friday 30th May - Sunday 1st June 2025
Luogo
Town historical centre and canal harbour
Cervia - Piazza Garibaldi, Viale Roma, Via Nazario Sauro
Official Tourist Information Site of Cervia