Exploring the Ports of Venice and Chioggia
Nearly 2,700 participants attended the 2023 edition of the Port Days in the Venetian port system, which offered four different types of events spread across Venice and Chioggia: in-depth meetings, recreational and sports activities, guided boat and land tours, and artistic performances in music and theater.
Among the participants were many primary and secondary school students, young university students, as well as senior citizens, families, local associations, industry professionals, and the general public.
The program kicked off with a unique meeting with the elderly community at the IPAV residence in Mestre on Monday, October 3. The interest generated from this indoor event led to a follow-up event in Marghera with a special tour at the Venice Heritage Tower. Many of the visitors shared anecdotes about the port’s history, enriching the narrative provided by the guides.
At the Venice Heritage Tower, on the weekend of October 7 and 8, six rounds of guided tours were held, involving a total of 270 people. The evolution of Porto Marghera and its past and present highlights fascinated the audience, with a significant number already booking for the following year, eager to learn about the progress of these facilities.
The following Mondays, October 9 and 16, featured Chioggia, starting with primary school students.
They were hosted at the Civic Museum of the Southern Lagoon, made available through collaboration with the municipality. Representatives from NASPA and the Harbor Master’s Office conducted a playful and educational workshop for the young students using the PORT EDUCATIONAL multimedia tool. The workshop was also attended by Assessor Serena de Perini and Assessor Elena Zennaro, who regularly greet the children and teachers involved in various initiatives.
On Wednesday, October 11, around 70 university students residing in the CPU Santa Fosca and San Michele student housing participated in a guided boat tour of the port facilities, accompanied by representatives from the Harbor Master’s Office and NASPA.
Guided tours with high school students and ITS Marco Polo took place on October 12, 17, and 19, featuring expert insights from representatives of the port community, including industry association presidents and Propeller Club advisors. In total, over 300 students were reached.
Friday, October 13, was dedicated to activities along the Venetian waterfront. In the morning, about 200 primary school children had the opportunity to try various sports (athletics, judo, handball, basketball) and received personalized T-shirts and diplomas. In the evening, young people danced to the rhythms of bands and DJs at the “San Basilio Waterfront Music Fest,” a music event co-organized with Ca’ Foscari University.
Over the weekend, two performances of “DI MARE IN MARE” were sold out at the Avogaria Theater. This was not a show about the sea but a show that evoked the spirit of the sea, an element that has the power to unite cultures and, at the same time, separate worlds to create stories.
The “Discovering the Venetian Waterfront” initiative on Wednesday, October 18, involved about 50 citizens. They attended an indoor workshop on the evolution and future prospects of the Santa Marta and San Basilio area and then continued with a 7-stop walking tour, despite adverse weather conditions. They were guided by representatives from NASPA, the Harbor Master’s Office, Ca’ Foscari University, IUAV, Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, Moorers, and CFLI.
On Monday, October 23, around 50 lower secondary school students participated in an educational deep-dive into the topics of the lagoon and its coexistence with maritime and port activities. This took place at the VAC Foundation, in collaboration with We Are Here Venice, where NASPA discussed their efforts to balance port needs with environmental concerns.
Finally, on Tuesday, October 24, over 90 entrepreneurs and institutions participated in the “Sustainability and Inclusion: Must-Haves for the Cruise Destination” training day held in Chioggia as part of the “Chioggia Cruise Destination” project. This initiative involved not only NASPA but also the Chioggia municipality, the Harbor Master’s Office, the Tourism Directorate of the Veneto Region, Etifor, and ENAT (The European Network for Accessible Tourism). It aimed to structure the tourist offerings of the cruise destination, guiding the territory in organizing its offerings and highlighting the city’s strengths.”