This morning, nearly 7,500 people going “Su e Zo” through Venetian bridges livened up the calli (streets), registering a sold-out event with a 30% increase in participants. The traditional walk passed through some of the most typical places of Venice, as well as lesser-known spots.
This edition was dedicated to Marco Polo, in the 700th anniversary of his death. The event was sponsored by the City of Venice, together with the Italian Navy, Veneto Region, the Metropolitan City of Venice, and the North Adriatic Sea Porth System Authority, and it was organized by TGS Eurogroup (Turismo Giovanile Sociale, Social Youth Tourism).
This year’s edition was one of the most popular ever. The walk offered families and children a moment of fun and a spirit of social solidarity: the revenues from starting fees were donated to charity projects by the Salesian of Don Bosco in the Holy Land.
A Holy Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica followed the non-competitive walk, with participants choosing between two different routes: the longer one was 11 km and included 39 bridges, starting and ending at St. Mark’s Square, while the shorter one was 5 km with 18 bridges. The latter was mainly for kindergarten and elementary school students, starting at the Port of Venice and ending at St. Mark’s Square.
Participants came not only from the Triveneto area, but also from other parts of Italy, especially from Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Umbria, Lazio, and Sardinia. Groups from Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Israel also took part in the “Su e Zo” walk.
Twenty-six groups with at least 50 participants received a badge and a trophy made of precious Murano glass. Additionally, each participant received a commemorative medal. Ten schools with 100 or more participants number won the “Prize for Don Dino Berti” and a €300- 500 coupon for purchasing teaching and sports materials. The total revenue sum given to schools was €3.800.
The award ceremony in St. Mark’s Square was attended by the City Councilor for the Promotion of the Territory and the President of the Venice- Murano Burano Municipality.
The awarded groups were: Bishop’s College "Balbi Valier", Pieve di Soligo with 102 enrollees; "Andrea Mantegna" Primary School, Spinea with 103 enrollees; "Luigi Caburlotto" Infant and Primary School, Mestre with 108 enrollees; Istituto "Maria Ausiliatrice", Montebelluna with 113 enrollees; Istituto Comprensivo "L. Schiavinato", San Donà di Piave with 113 enrollees; Istituto Comprensivo "Dante Alighieri", Salzano with 218 enrollees; Istituto Suore "San Francesco di Sales", Venezia with 101 enrollees; "S. Maria Goretti" Primary School, Mestre with 235 enrollees; Istituto Comprensivo "G.A. Farina", Mestre with 156 enrollees; Convitto Nazionale "Marco Foscarini", Venezia with 187 enrollees; “Planinsko društvo PT Celje”, Slovenia, the most numerous group from abroad with 90 enrollees; "Noi Associazione Spanago", Vicenza with 113 enrollees.
Special mention and a prize made of Murano glass were given to the folk groups that animated the event: the “Vessilliferi di Marostica” (Vicenza), the “Sbandieratori di Feltre” (Belluno), the “Danzerini di Passons” (Udine) and the folk group “Le Due Torri di Miranda” (Isernia).
