May 30 - June 1, 2025
Cervia
Marriage of the sea
When the people of Cervia began to celebrate this anniversary, the city was still near the salt pan. Legend has it that on Ascension Day in 1445, Bishop Pietro Barbo, returning by sea from an embassy in Venice, found himself involved in a bad storm, which he calmed by throwing his ring into the sea.
Since then, The Marriage of the Sea has been repeated every year. On Ascension Sunday you can relive the atmosphere and traditions linked to this rite throughout the city. In the procession that starts from Piazza Garibaldi, ladies, lords, bishops and mayors dressed in sumptuous period clothing accompany the Archbishop of the Diocese of Ravenna and Cervia to throw the ring into the sea.
On board a fishing boat, after having pronounced the ritual words, "...Bless these waters, the ships that ply them, the flight feathers, the helmsmen, the men, the goods...", the Archbishop launches the ring of my Cervia. Then the swimmers dive in to fish it out as a sign of good omen for the fishing and the upcoming tourist season.
In 1986, it was Pope John Paul II who celebrated the ceremony. To the old words of blessing, the Pope added new ones, addressed to men beyond the sea who love peace and harmony. And so my wedding became a symbol of eternal brotherhood between peoples. Today is the celebration that has been held for the longest time in Italy, an anniversary that is still very much felt by my inhabitants.
Every year, the Marriage of the Sea becomes an opportunity to invite a city with which a special bond is created or renewed. The host city for 2025 is Pinzolo, linked to Cervia for a long time with a friendship cultivated throughout the year, so much so that Pinzolo, which has participated in the Cervia Garden City event for years, in winter gives Cervia the Christmas trees that decorate the central square and the town.
The programme of the 581st edition is spread over three days, from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June: history, culture, gastronomy and shows are the ingredients of the traditional festival so loved by the people of Cervia and appreciated by visitors and tourists. Rich and linked to tradition will be the programme on Ascension Sunday, Sunday 1 June. The day is dedicated to the eagerly awaited celebration of the ancient rite at sea and the challenge of ring fishing where the young people of Cervia compete for the ‘trophy’ that promises good luck and prosperity. Opening the day's packed programme will be the Trofeo dell'Anello (Ring Trophy), an archery tournament organised by the Cervia Group of Archers City of Rimini Seven Arrows, in Piazzale dei Salinari at 10 am.
Also for this edition, to allow the entire community to follow the ceremony at sea, the Municipal Administration plans to set up two giant screens, one in Piazza Garibaldi and one near the Tourist Port, on the D'Annunzio Promenade, where the event will be broadcast live on Facebook.
Programm
Friday 30 May
9 p.m.
Piazza Garibaldi (in case of bad weather at the ‘Walter Chiari’ municipal theatre)
Concert by the Grande Orchestra Città di Cervia
Saturday 31 May
9 p.m.
Piazza Garibaldi (in case of bad weather at the Municipal Theatre ‘Walter Chiari’)
Ring Ceremony
Exchange of gifts between Pinzolo and Cervia
As a preview of the historical procession, the Cervia athletes who will play the role of the Lady of the Ring and the Podestà will be presented: Ilary Fontana and Serio Goffi
Music by the Pinzolo band.
10 a.m.
Salinari Square
Archery Trophy
Organised by the Cervia Group of Archers City of Rimini Seven Arrows
10:30 a.m.
Sea and Fishing’ Heritage Walk
Meeting at the Torre San Michele, organised by the F.E.S.T.A. Association, to discover local traditions linked to the sea.
4 p.m.
Piazza Garibaldi
The Cervia of the past between tradition and folklore
Performance by the group of flag-wavers, musicians and standard bearers, representing the districts of the Palio del Niballo di Faenza, in collaboration with the Municipality of Faenza, and parade of participants in historical costumes.
RIGHTS OF THE RING
5.00 p.m.
Piazza Garibaldi
Solemn blessing of the Ring
Archbishop Lorenzo Ghizzoni blesses the ring that will be thrown into the sea.
Musical accompaniment by the Ad Novas Choir.
5.30 p.m.
Procession of the Ring
Piazza Garibaldi
Procession in period costume through the streets of the town centre to the Lungomare promenade and the canal port.
Special participation by Ilary Fontana and Serio Goffi as the Lady of the Ring and the Podestà.
5.45 p.m.
Lungomare D'Annunzio, Monumento ai Caduti in mare
Prayer and wreath-laying
in memory of those fallen at sea
5.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Embarkation for the ceremony and exit to the sea
6 p.m.
Ceremony
9 p.m.
Canal Harbour
Cockaigne on the water
FOOD AND WINE
Gastronomic stand: a sea that unites
Aliprandi Square
Friday from 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Discover the products of the Adriatic Sea, fish and Cervia mussels, and learn about typical local recipes organised by Circolo Pescatori La Pantofla.
The Bread of the Sensia and the Sweet of the Spinsters
The Pane della Sensia is a tradition linked to the Marriage of the Sea. It has a rounded shape with a cross design on its surface.
Also returning is the Dolce delle Zitelle (Spinsters' Cake), from a recipe developed a few years ago by the Cervia Hotelier Institute IPSEOA, after a study on the cuisine of the past, using local products.
These traditional Cervia classics will be on sale from 26 May to 1 June.
Participating bakers: Forno Doganieri (Cervia, Via Grazia Deledda 2/a); Forno Giuliani (Milano Marittima, Viale Dante 75); Forno Martini (Cervia, Via Stazione 16); Forno Zamagni (Tagliata, Via Sicilia 8)
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