Venice Sports & Outdoors

In the Venice travel forum someone had asked if kayaking was allowed in Venice. So I was on the lookout when we traveled to there. Listen to this! We had just arrived to our apartment, I stepped out onto the balcony to see the view, looked down into our small canal, and there gliding beneath me was a kayak! A tandem (2 person). Then, later in the week, I saw a whole bunch of them kayaking around the Arsenale area. And then this picture of a guy kayaking on the grand canal.
I didn't see oodles of kayakers, but they were definitely out and about.

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EVERY SO OFTEN ONE WATCHED THE PIGEONS RACING EACH OTHER FOR WHAT EVER THE REASON THEY HAD....MOST OF THE TIME FOR AN AWARD THAT SUMMED UP SOME TYPE OF FOOD.

Equipment: QUICK ON THE FEET ..IN THIS CASE STAYING ON THE GROUND AS THESE TWO FINALISTS HAD PROVEN..LEAVING THE OTHER PARTICPANTS IN THE DUST.

The question is:
- are there too much gondolas in Venice,
- is the tour price exorbitant?
Any of yours opinion is welcome.

Equipment: There must be something wrong with that gondolas, everywhere one go there is a gondoliere offering gondola tour. You can't negotiate the price, which is in my opinion much too high, and yet most of gondolieri loafing around completely idly.
There must be a hard work sitting there all day long and card palying.

On May 26 and 27 a great event will take place in Venice: The Velalonga. All those who are interested in sailing or rowing can participate! The Circolo Velico Casanova (www.circolovelicocasanova.it; www.velalonga.com) will organize this event for the 6th year.

After that day, a Sailing Raid has been organized! Sail on the lagoon on traditional lug sailboats for one week. Worth a try!
Velalonga Raid

As part of the yearly "Redentore Festival" there is the historical "Regatta Storica", or local boat race on the Giudecca Canal, southern Venice and on the Grand Canal - as fieste for the locals and the tourist of course.

Equipment: This picture is showing the fittness and practicing of the Belgian team called Canneloni, or was is Spaghetti.
Italy, be warned, next to tennis in Wimbledon we will go for the championship in your historical city.

Visiting Venice and learn everything how to make and handle the most symbolic way of transport in Venice. A challenge indeed
Take your time, stroll around on this "Boulevard" or Zattere and visit the Scuola voga-vela.It is impressive to see how a Gondola (11meters long and 600 kg of weight) is put into the Canale della Giudecca

Equipment: The local school "Society Canottieri Bucintoro" will give you all necessary equipment and instructors

Over 1000 various craft assembled in the Canale di S. Marco for the 23rd Voga Longa (The long row).
The challenge is a non competitive row around the Venice Lagoon a distance of 32 Kilometers, around the Islands of Burano and Murano, before re-entering Venice down the Canale di Cannaregio and Grande Canale before finishing off at the Campo de Salute opposite the Dogges Palace.

Equipment: All of the craft have to be capable of being propelled by paddle or oar, there is no restriction as to the type of craft so an incredible variety of boats took part, these ranged from a single Kayak to traditional Venician vessels rowed by 24 people.

Its too much of water in Venice but if you still want a dip don’t try the see water. Try Piscina Comunale di Venezia Rari-Nantes. It measures 25 x 16.30 m2 and is the venue for swimming, aquarobics and subacqua lessons with qualified instructors. When lessons are not in progress, the pool is open to the public. It is part of a larger sports complex which in spring will include a bowling green, several tennis courts, a five-a-side pitch, and an area for rowing and 'voga veneta' (Venetian rowing). It will also house a bar and restaurant.
Entrance: EUR 3.90