This is a short video of the history of the capital of S. Secondo and the stages of repositioning on the bricole, which took place on May 24, 2019, after the restoration due to the damage suffered in October 2018. The history of the Capitello di San Secondo has its roots in legend.
It is said that in that location a capital was placed in memory of the killing in 1842 of two women, perhaps fishermen, by the Austrian troops who had mistaken them for smugglers.
According to other sources, the capital was instead placed due to the vote of the Madonna by a soldier who had returned alive from the 1st world war.
Instead, what is documented is the casual discovery in the salt marshes of a glass icon of the Madonna of "Nicopeia" by two members of the 3 Archi Group, a rowing club based in Cannaregio.
In 1979 the Gruppo 3 Archi decided, by mutual agreement between the Voga Veneta Mestre Sports Group, to place the icon inside a new capital since the old one was badly deteriorated.
Since that year, usually on the second or third Sunday of May, Gruppo 3 Archi and Voga Veneta Mestre organize the Festa del Capiteo around which boats of traditional Venetian rowing design gather to attend the Holy Mass and the subsequent regatta on sandoli with mixed crews of the two companies. In December 1992 a strong storm blew down the capital dragging it away. After a week it was fortunately found, restored and then replaced.
On May 8, 2011 during his visit to Venice, Pope Benedict the 16th paused briefly in front of the capital and gave the blessing to those present who had gathered waiting for his passage.
In October 2018, following the corrosion of the supporting bricole and the severe bad weather, the Capital risked ending up in the water had it not been for the prompt intervention of the Voga Veneta Mestre that recovered it thus saving it from destruction. An agreement between the rowing companies meant that the new stand was rebuilt, recovering some parts from the old one and replacing the supporting bricole. On May 26, 2019 the participants of the Festa del Capiteo could see the reconstructed capital. This video documents the repositioning phases of the new capital.
**Credits**
The song Madonnina del Mare is performed by Gruppo Costumi Tradizionali Bisiachi
• Madonnina del Mare
/ gruppocostumitradizion...
Voice by Greg Mohr (www.gondolagreg.com)
©2019 / 2020 - Video and photos by Nereo Zane - www.studiozane.com