Venetians in historical dress row down the Grand Canal, led by the famous Bucintoro boat (bottom L), from the Doge's Palace to the Rialto bridge in Venice Sept 5, 2010. On the first Sunday of every September, hundreds of Venetians pile into the long boats that have plied the city's canals for centuries for the 'Regata Storica' (Historical Regatta), a historical procession that commemorates the welcome given to Caterina Cornaro, wife of the King of Cyprus, in 1489 after she renounced her throne in favour of Venice. [Agencies]

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