A yearly boat race between the four Italian Maritime Republics that sailed the seas in medieval times is hosted, in turn, on the Mediterranean at Amalfi and Genoa, on the Arno in Pisa and on the lagoon in Venice, to commemorate the historical figures and memories of the four cities. The idea of the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics was realized in 1955 and the first edition took place in Genova. The constitutive act was signed at Amalfi on December 10, 1955. The spectacular event is preceded by a great historical pageant of 400 boaters with participants in period costumes: flags and festoons, trumpets and drums, horses and sedan-chairs add glamour to the solemn procession.