Event: Italy

Dragon Boat Competition

When:	Aug 2008 (annual)
Where:	Lake Caldonazzo
Costs:	Free to watch
Opening Hours:	Various

Every year the Valsugana boroughs compete against each other in the Palio dei Draghi, a colourful dragon boat race. It is held on Lake Caldonazzo, the biggest lake in Trentino-Alto Adige, 15km from Trento city centre.

Dragon boat racing was only introduced in Italy in 1985, when the Hong Kong Tourist Association donated one original dragon boat to the Venetian and Roman rowers as a gift for their participation in the Hong Kong Festival. Ever since, numerous replicas of the original boat have been built for the competition, which has steadily grown in size and popularity.

Recent regulations were introduced to allow other European competitors to take part, and now both local and international teams compete.