The anniversary events will celebrate the rich history and culture of the Italian lagoon city, which is said to have been founded on March 25, AD 421.
Legend has it that it was on this date that the first cornerstone was laid at the San Giacomo di Rialto church, known by Venetians as San Giacometto.
Local authorities hope that the anniversary celebrations will spark a “renaissance” for the city, whose crucial tourism industry has been paralysed by the pandemic.
The first anniversary event will be a special Mass at St Mark’s Basilica at 11:00 am on Thursday.
It will be broadcast live on the Antenna 3 network and on the Gente Veneta Facebook page to avoid large crowds.
At 4:00 pm, bells will ring out at length across Venice while at 6:30 pm, state broadcaster Rai will pay tribute to Venice with a special feature dedicated to 16 centuries of Venetian life, as well as what the future may hold for the city.
Some 235 events are scheduled between now and 2022, COVID-19 restrictions permitting, with highlights including the Venice Boat Fair, from May 29 to June 6, and the Architecture Biennale, from May 22.
With ANSA
