The Feast of the Redentore was founded in the 16th Century to celebrate the end of a devastating epidemic of plague that the populations of Europe had passed. Venice was not spared from the epidemic, that it caused 50,000 victims. Today the feast is one of the most popular eventsfor the Venetians. For a short time, the island of Giudecca is connected to Venice by a bridge of rafts. The bridge ends in front of the stairs of the Redentore church. Towards evening, the basin of Sait Mark’s is home to boats of all kinds, which are richly decorated with lanterns and garlands. Music is playingg until the climax of the festival: a wonderful game of fireworks that last for an hour. After the fireworks a spontaneous train of boats is passing through the Canal Grande.