Festa di San Marco and the Bòcolo Festival Event Religious event

The Feast of Saint Mark and the bòcolo tradition

On 25 April, Venice celebrates Saint Mark, its patron saint, whose relics rest in St Mark's Basilica. It is also, throughout Italy, Liberation Day: the day is a public holiday, which makes it a very busy day in the city centre.

The festival is best known for the bòcolo, a red rosebud given on that day to the woman you love: wife, fiancée, but also mother or sister. The tradition is based on a legend: Maria, known as Vulcana, daughter of a doge, loves Tancredi, a young man of the people. Having gone off to fight, Tancredi is mortally wounded on a bush of white roses that his blood stains red; he entrusts a companion to bring a rose to Maria. She is found dead the next day, the flower in her hands. Versions vary according to the sources (name of the doge, location of the battle): it is a popular tale, not an established historical fact.

Plan ahead: the combination of the patron saint's feast, Liberation Day and the spring holidays makes this weekend one of the busiest in April. Book early, both accommodation and restaurants.

Find out more: City of Venice; Venezia Unica.