The traditional “blessing of the boatmen” took place on Saturday, April 20th in Riva del Garda. The event, organized by the Friends of Tirlindana in collaboration with the municipal administration and with the support of the volunteer fire brigade of Riva del Garda, saw the participation of numerous boatmen who took part in the procession on the lake.
The ceremony took place at the shrine of Madonnina, at the entrance of the gulf of Riva del Garda. After the greetings from the president of the Friends of Tirlindana association and the mayor, Father Dario Silvello, the dean archpriest of the city, imparted the blessing to the boats. The ceremony concluded with the recitation of the poem “La Madonina” by Giacomo Floriani.
To allow everyone to attend the event, the Furletti and Cattoni companies provided their pedal boats free of charge, while others were hosted on the fishermen’s boats. In addition, the Riva del Garda Diving Group participated with a new inflatable boat purchased thanks to the contribution of the Municipality and the Bim Sarca Mincio Garda. This large-sized boat is equipped with a low-emission engine and a cooling system that filters water and retains microplastics.
The event lasted about an hour and a half and was also followed by Rai Trento, which produced a report on the “blessing of the boatmen”. The initiative represents a tradition deeply rooted in the territory and provides an opportunity to celebrate the seafaring culture of Lake Garda. You can find more information on the event here.
Italian Version
