Saint Mark's Lion standing proudly over the visitors
This splendid parade vessel is extremely impressive to look at and was built by Venetian craftsmen in the Arsenale, probably between the first half and middle of the 18th century during the period of Hapsburg rule. The vessel was used in St. Mark's Basin for festivities, historical and social events in the city. The semicircular stern forms a small platform for a wooden group of sculptures, decorated with gold leaf depicting "the Coronation of Italy by the Venetian Republic"; this was completed after King Vittorio Emanuele II's visit to Venice on 7 November 1866. This historic event is documented by Girolamo Induna's painting, which is preserved in the Museo del Risorgimento in Milan.
The painting depicts the Scalé Reale sailing through St. Mark's Basin; a crowd standing in the Piazzetta and in front of the Doge's Palace is watching the luxurious vessel with its tricolored flags go past. Wearing the Doge's ducal hat, the statue of Venice is standing up and placing a laurel crown on Italy's head (the seated figure), surrounded by a crenellated crown. A small angel is walking in front of the two statues with its arms upwards. Below the stern is an elegant crimson red velvet train that reaches down into the water. The canopy that protects the illustrious guests is completely glazed and support by four Doric columns; a frieze decorated of gold leaf with mock- classical racemes and lions' heads runs down the entire length of the boat. The side of the hull is painted red while the lower part is white. Placed at the bow, the statue of St. Mark's Lion was also made when the King visited Venice. The Savoy coats of arms have been replaced by those of the Italian Navy and can be seen on the bow hull.
The last time this magnificent vessel sailed was in 1959 for the funeral of Pope Pius X, who had been patriarch of Venice and whose funeral was held in the Basilica of St. Mark. He was buried in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Scalé Reale was a source of inspiration for the shape of the eighteen-oar bissona Serenissima, built by the local shipwright Giovanni Giuponi between 1958 and 1965 that we can admire each year during the Regata Storica procession in Venice.
Saint Mark's Lion standing proudly over the visitors
This splendid parade vessel is extremely impressive to look at and was built by Venetian craftsmen in the Arsenale, probably between the first half and middle of the 18th century during the period of Hapsburg rule. The vessel was used in St. Mark's Basin for festivities, historical and social events in the city. The semicircular stern forms a small platform for a wooden group of sculptures, decorated with gold leaf depicting "the Coronation of Italy by the Venetian Republic"; this was completed after King Vittorio Emanuele II's visit to Venice on 7 November 1866. This historic event is documented by Girolamo Induna's painting, which is preserved in the Museo del Risorgimento in Milan.
The painting depicts the Scalé Reale sailing through St. Mark's Basin; a crowd standing in the Piazzetta and in front of the Doge's Palace is watching the luxurious vessel with its tricolored flags go past. Wearing the Doge's ducal hat, the statue of Venice is standing up and placing a laurel crown on Italy's head (the seated figure), surrounded by a crenellated crown. A small angel is walking in front of the two statues with its arms upwards. Below the stern is an elegant crimson red velvet train that reaches down into the water. The canopy that protects the illustrious guests is completely glazed and support by four Doric columns; a frieze decorated of gold leaf with mock- classical racemes and lions' heads runs down the entire length of the boat. The side of the hull is painted red while the lower part is white. Placed at the bow, the statue of St. Mark's Lion was also made when the King visited Venice. The Savoy coats of arms have been replaced by those of the Italian Navy and can be seen on the bow hull.
The last time this magnificent vessel sailed was in 1959 for the funeral of Pope Pius X, who had been patriarch of Venice and whose funeral was held in the Basilica of St. Mark. He was buried in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Scalé Reale was a source of inspiration for the shape of the eighteen-oar bissona Serenissima, built by the local shipwright Giovanni Giuponi between 1958 and 1965 that we can admire each year during the Regata Storica procession in Venice.