Su e Zo per i Ponti di Venezia {Up and Down the Bridges of Venice)
Tickets were already in our hands for the 8:36 regional train, leaving for Venezia S.Lucia. Numerous families with their kids and friends were invading the train heading for the 35th annual event entitled in Venetian dialect “Su e Zo per i Ponti” which means ” Up and Down the Bridges” an unusual non competitive walk which was scheduled for Sunday, April 7th. With the arrival of spring and nice weather we couldn’t wait to participate in one of the most important annual Venetian initiatives.
The first event dates back to 1975 and was organised by followers of Don Bosco and other catholic groups. Don Bosco was an Italian Roman Catholic priest of the Latin Church, and an educator and writer of the 19th century. This event achieved such a success that promoters decided to carry on organising it.
This walk is for everyone: Young and old, families, school parties and sport groups altogether in a happy atmosphere through the Venetian calli. 12,000 people under sun or rain walk through the beautiful streets admiring the immense culture, history and traditions.
Since the kids in our group are aged from 6 to 12, our families chose the shortest route of 6 kms (3.6 miles) that started from the Venice train station and finished in Piazza San Marco in front of the Doge’s Palace crossing 26 bridges.
The longer route was about 12 kms long (7.6 miles) and crossed 48 bridges. Both routes take you through the calli (streets of Venice), campi (squares) and up and down small, often very narrow bridges in different areas of Venice.
Beverage and food refreshment points were available along the route and a commemorative medal was given to all participants at the finish line.
My family was part of one of the largest groups and this year we had 185 participants and received the prize of the second most numerous team. Our children’s elementary school, Maria Ausiliatrice of Montebelluna, a Roman Catholic religious Institute run mainly by nuns, was awarded 200 Euros ($260) in stationary, a Murano glass Lion of Saint Mark and a ceramic miniature of the “Ponte degli Scalzi” .
Enjoy some of the wonderful things I saw along the way….
Entertainment for kids before the event!
Folk group with their traditional costumes.
Locals however go on with their everyday activities!
Pasta of all types and colours were a speciality of the Doges of Venice.
The famous buranelli biscuits with their ring shape of all sizes. The main ingredients are a lot of butter, sugar, several eggs, flour, vanilla and lemon peels.
Torrone di Venezia: nougat made of honey, sugar and egg whites, with toasted almonds or nuts, usually shaped into round cake.
Should you be in Venice, this unique enchanting town, in the first week of April and see thousands of people running up and down the bridges all over Venice, don’t worry, it’s not a hallucination!
Meet Laney Sachs
I’m not just enthusiastic about travel—I live travel, each and every day. From plotting out my clients’ next great escape, to logging airmiles on my own adventures (I always have a suitcase packed and at the ready!), travel drives me in everything I do.
I’ve learned a few things along the way, and I’d love to share them with you. Learn a bit more about my journey to founding my own travel agency—it involves quite a few glasses of Italian wine!
