from early on the saturday, boat are decorated with flowers, lanterns, and balloons. St Mark's lagoon fills with as many as two thousand boats, their occupants eating and drinking as they wait for the traditional spectacular display of fireworks.(Arrangements can easily be made through your hotel for an evening with dinner on a boat.) At around 11.30 p.m., the display begins and the lagoon becomes on of the most atmospheric stages in the word, fireworks illuminating the spires, domes, and bell tower of the city.