Get Masked For Your Special Venice Carnival
Updated: June 2023
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what to expect from the Venetian Carnival, be prepared for the unexpected. You may be enchanted by a foggy day where people in long cloaks and masks mysteriously appear and disappear on the ancient Venetian alleys (calli). Or, you may be lucky enough to experience the Carnival under a blanket of snow, as it is today.
One of the first things to do once you arrive in town is to get a costume and a mask. There are various Venetian costume shops where you can choose from dozens of rental costumes. These costumes are not only for showing off in St. Mark’s Square but also for attending local private parties. For an 18th-century Venetian dress, be prepared to spend around 150-200 euros for the first day and around 50-70 euros for each additional day.
If you are on a budget or interested in something still typical but more intriguing, we suggest finding a white or gold ‘bauta’ (a plain typical Venetian mask that should cost between 10-17 euros), a pair of black or white gloves, and a long black cloak. Apply some white makeup on your face, add a beauty spot on your cheek, and wear red lipstick (even for men). You will certainly be asked to pose for tourist photos. Also, don’t wait for a party to wear your mask. During the Carnival, you are allowed to wear your mask everywhere every day. At least this was the case in the past. You can then take your mask home with you as a souvenir or gift from your Venetian trip!
Where can you find your Carnival mask or learn more about the history of the Venetian mask? There are many street vendors where you can buy anything from mass-produced paper masks to handcrafted papier-mâché and leather masks made by skilled artisans. But for a quality mask or simply out of curiosity, you should visit one of the workshops where masks are made on-site. Here are a couple of the most famous in Venice:
Mondonovo (Rio Terra Canal, Dorsoduro 3063 near Campo Santa Margherita: take vaporetto line N.1 and stop at Ca’ Rezzonico; phone +39 041287 344).
Laboratorio Artigiano Maschere (Barbaria delle Tole, Castello 6657 near the SS Giovanni e Paolo church: stop at the Ospedale vaporetto station; phone: +39 041522 3110
See also these websites where you can buy or compare prices: tragicomica.it, bluemoonmask.com, veniceatelier.com
Be prepared to spend quite a lot on accommodation in Venice during the Carnival period. Hotels are usually fully booked since the previous year because any tourist would love to be there during that time. For budget accommodation in Venice, consider hostels such as Ai Musici hostel, ai Mori Hostel or il Veliero Romantico youth hostel very close to the Train Station. Apartments are also a good solution; some of them (for 5 people) cost around 160 euros.
Alternative solutions that are still interesting could be found in Mestre and the Riviera del Brenta where many events (theatres, concerts, parties in Villas) are regularly held for Carnival.
