Venice Carnival: Once In A Lifetime Experience
Updated: June 2023
The Venice Carnival is one of those events that travelers dream of attending. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Carnival is held annually in Venice, northern Italy, about 2 weeks before Ash Wednesday and runs for 2 weeks.
How did the Venice Carnival start?
The festival was first celebrated in the 11th century but was abandoned in the 18th century, only to be revived in 1979. Originally, balls were held in St. Mark’s Square, and the masks served to eliminate class distinctions for a while. All people became equal behind the masks.
The Carnival was held just before Lent when Christians give up meat and other delights, so it is the final celebration before the austere 40 days of Lent. Everyone loves a good party, and princes and noblemen came from throughout Europe to enjoy the festivities and spend lots of money on gambling, brothels, alcohol, and to see carnival acts. The masks and costumes began as simple cloaks and pointed-nosed masks but soon got more and more elaborate. When revelers began to disturb the peace, laws were put in place to limit the wearing of masks and costumes to certain days.
What happens at the Venice Carnival?
During the festival, people in Venice wear masks and costumes, socialize in the streets, are entertained in the city squares, and do a lot of partying. There are several traditional balls and events put on by the tourist board. Street entertainers and musicians add to the entertainment at this outdoor festival.
You don’t want to just wander aimlessly in the streets during the festival, so take a tour (Carnival Pub Crawl; Murder and Mystery Tour; Casanova Tour) or book entrance to a ball. During the carnival, “frittelle” donuts are made and sold in every café, and it is traditional to drink hot chocolate. And of course, party, party, party!
At the opening party on the first Sunday of the festival, you can see the “flight of the angel” when a well-known personality dresses as an angel and swings off of St. Mark’s bell tower.
The Venice Carnival Masks and Costumes
Venetian craftsmen have become expert mask makers and costume makers, and you can hire both in Venice for the Carnival. Many book their costumes online before arriving at the festival. The most traditional masks and costumes are those of the Commedia dell’arte; historic costumes; fantasy costumes; and Venetian period costumes. Couples often dress up as a pair or as a couple of allegorical characters. There are costume rental companies all over Venice so you don’t have to buy one.
Venice Carnival Events
You could have a great time at the carnival just by enjoying the free entertainment on the streets, but there are many planned events, some private and some pay-to-party events. Attend a dinner/dance event at Hotel Danieli; see and be seen at a Gala Dinner and Ball at Palazzo Dandolo; or sip hot chocolate at Gran Caffe Lavena where everyone must be in costume to enter.
There is also a symphony concert, a gondola tour with dinner, and exclusive masked balls where tickets have to be booked months in advance. The most prestigious of these balls is Il Ballo Del Doge Masked Ball held at Palazzo Pisani Moretta. Another is Mascheranda Masked Ball. If you want to learn traditional ball dances, go to Tiepolo Masquerade Ball. Each year these balls have a unique theme and are elegant and lavish.
There is also a Venice Children’s Carnival Opening Party on the first Saturday of the carnival in St. Mark’s Square. Additionally, attend the opening and closing parties of the carnival in St. Mark’s Square with fireworks!
In summary, attending Venice Carnival is an unforgettable experience that offers something for everyone: from street entertainment to elegant balls; from traditional donuts to hot chocolate; from historic costumes to fantasy ones; from tours to parties; from concerts to gondola rides with dinner. It’s an event not to be missed!
