The Origins
The story of Vogalonga begins with a simple friendly regatta among "mascarete" on Saint Martin's Day in 1974. In an era when the roar of engines began to drown out the placid beat of oars, a group of devotees of the "voga alla veneta" set out to reverse this trend. Lauro Bergamo and Delfo Utimpergher, prominent figures of the newspaper Il Gazzettino, along with Toni and Giuseppe Rosa Salva, two brothers involved in social activities and regattas, cultivated the ambitious vision of an event that would revive Venetian traditions and counter the deterioration of the city.
The First Vogalonga
That genuine impulse was the flap of wings that gave life to the first Vogalonga, officially proclaimed on January 26, 1975. An event designed to be an inclusive experience, extending the invitation to every enthusiast and veteran rower to unite in defense of Venice. Lauro Bergamo, Carlo Gottardi, Lilly Sirolla, and the Rosa Salvas (Toni, Lalo, Pino, and Paolo) constituted the core of a promoting committee that would change the face of rowing in the lagoon city.
The Birth of a Movement
Defined by the Corriere della Sera as the action of "a small group of Venetians" determined to stop talking and start acting, this event called the citizens "to arms," or rather, to oars. The course, stretching about 30 km through the Venetian canals, emphasized the beauty and picturesque atmosphere of the lagoon, promoting both the cultural heritage and the environmental serenity of Venice
