Italian coastal towns host traditional Gozzo boat festivals

The 2026 Regata dei Quartieri Storici will take place on August 16 in Siracusa, Sicily, celebrating the traditional 7‑8 m "Gozzo" fishing boat. Five historic districts of the ancient Pentapoli will race from Porto Piccolo, around Ortigia, to a finish at Porto Grande. The event also highlights the role of the historic "mastro d’ascia" and aims to preserve the boat’s cultural heritage, which was added to the Regional Registry of Intangible Heritage in 2018.

In Giovinazzo, Apulia, a program of summer events scheduled for July 18, 2026, includes boat tours by the local association Amici del Gozzo departing from the Torrione Angioino pier. The afternoon features cultural activities such as a children’s storytelling festival, Lego workshops, guided tours of historic churches, and a poetry competition, organized by municipal cultural offices and local societies.

Both towns use the iconic Gozzo boat to promote local maritime traditions, attract tourists, and engage community members in cultural programming.