The tradition of the Marriage of the Sea in Piazza San Marco, Venice is a centuries-old ceremony held to symbolically wed the city with its lagoon. The ritual dates back to 1177 when Doge Sebastiano Ziani officially declared Venice’s sovereignty over the waters that surrounded it. In this symbolic gesture, a ring was cast into the Adriatic Sea from an ornate boat in Piazza San Marco as part of a religious procession and accompanied by prayers for good luck and prosperity. The Marriage of the Sea still takes place today during certain special occasions such as Ascension Day and other civic celebrations. It is seen as a powerful reminder of Venice’s maritime history and connection to its surrounding waters.