The Feast of St Mark (La Festa di San Marco) is an annual local public holiday in Venice, Italy, on April 25. It honors St Mark, the city’s patron saint, and coincides with Liberation Day.
Is The Feast of St Mark (Venice) a Public Holiday?
The Feast of St Mark (Venice) is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
One of the highlights during the Feast of St Mark is the Regata di Traghetti, a boat race featuring gondoliers who compete while transporting passengers in their gondolas.
Other events in Venice around this time of the year include:
Church mass.
Concerts.
Carnivals.
Markets.
Public Life
St Mark’s Day is a local public holiday in Venice so many businesses and public offices are closed.
Background
St Mark (San Marco) is Venice’s patron saint who died on April 25 in 68 CE. He was one of Jesus Christ’s disciples and believed to be author of the Gospel of Mark. It is believed that the relics of St Mark were moved to Venice in 828 CE, where it attracted pilgrims from around Europe.
Symbols
One tradition associated with St Mark’s festival was the Festival of the Blooming Rose, symbolizing love and romance. The custom of giving a rose bud (bocolo) to a loved one is still practiced today.
The Feast of St Mark (Venice) Observances
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2018
Wed
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2019
Thu
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2020
Sat
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2021
Sun
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2022
Mon
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2023
Tue
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2024
Thu
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2025
Fri
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2026
Sat
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2027
Sun
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
2028
Tue
Apr 25
The Feast of St Mark (Venice)
Local holiday
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.