Venice Leisure

On your visit to Venice, whether you’re looking for sport as a spectator or as a participant, you’ll find the city and the nearby towns have plenty to offer. Water seems to play a predominant theme in many sporting activities, which is not surprising considering the city is built on water.

Spectator sports

If it’s spectator sports that you are looking for, you’ll find Venice offers any number of traditional regattas in which either rowing boats or gondolas take to the city’s waterways. The Regatta Storica, held in September, is a highlight of the year and features a pageant with historic boats manned by crew wearing traditional Renaissance costume. The Grand Canal is used for races and the gondolier event is considered the most competitive.

If boats and water isn’t your bag and you prefer football then Venice, like the rest of the country, is passionate about the game. Venezia, the city’s team, has seen some rocky times, but at the time of writing is back in the Seria A, the Italian 1st division, much to the delight of its extensive local fan base. Home games are held at the Pierluigi Penzo stadium on the east side of the city and tickets can be purchased from the San Marco and Cannaregio branches of Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta.

Participant sports

Golf lovers hoping to play a few holes while holidaying here will find the Alberoni Golf Club located on via del Forte, just 10kms from the city centre. The course is open to non-members and offers 18 holes as well as three practice greens. Visitors wanting to do a little boating of their own will find opportunities available for rowing and sailing, with several boating schools located around the city centre. Meanwhile, for those wanting to workout and stay trim, there are various health clubs and gymnasiums around the city, with many being found in the larger hotels.