Carnival of Venice
The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter. Most of all, the festival is world famous for its elaborate masks. Carnival takes place over 2 weeks, typically in January and February. An estimated 3 million visitors come to Venice every year for the Carnival.
The Beginning
Story goes that the Carnival of Venice started from a victory of the “Serenissima Repubblica“ against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico di Treven, in the year 1162. In the honor of this victory, the people started to dance and congregate in San Marco Square. In the seventeenth century, the baroque carnival was a way to save the prestigious image of Venice in the world. Under the rule of the King of Austria, the festival was outlawed entirely in 1797. Consequently, the use of masks became strictly forbidden. After a long absence, the Carnival returned in 1979. The Italian government decided to bring back the history and culture of Venice. It sought to use the traditional Carnival as the centerpiece of its efforts. The redevelopment of the masks began as the pursuit of some Venetian college students for the tourist trade
During carnival season walking through Venice, alongside people wearing the most fabulous costumes is like stepping back in time. One of the most important events is the contest for la maschera più bella (“the most beautiful mask”), but you also can’t miss out on gondola and boat parades along the Grand Canal, Mask parades in St. Mark’s Square, Carnival for Children in the Cannaregio district and Grand fireworks show on the final day, which end the carnival celebration.
The Carnival of Venice is perhaps one of the biggest celebrations in all of Italy. Carnival marks a very busy time for hotels, restaurants, and bars. Consequently, everything gets booked out well in advance. If you want help with your travel or event itinerary to Venice or tickets to the grand events.
Want to know more?
Want to know more about the Carnival of Venice? Planning on traveling to Europe? What to know more about personalized guided tours on history, architecture, and design? Or are you more about wine, sacred places, art, and gastronomy? Whether you’re looking for simple suggestions on where to eat, how to move around, and what to see, or if you need hour by hour organization of a 2 week guided trip throughout Europe and yearning to experience Europe like a local, we have the creativity, knowledge, and organizational skills to plan your every detail. In addition to being local, we speak multiple languages. Mostly, we are enthusiastic, responsible, and responsive, and we have 15 years worth of experience in the tourism sector.