“Parade in crinoline and lovers in disguise:
Mysterious, opulent, lascivious Carnival!”
-Mihaela Pirjol
Venice Carnival, what was your first thought, first association? Mirrors of water, old roads that lead you to get lost in narrow streets, the grandeur of mysterious architecture, people that hide their personalities behind masks, music, and dancing soaked in history, that reminds us about that epoch “with curls, silk, satin, pearls, and lace”. Venice Carnival is a period of fairy-tales, dreams, hidden desires, love and freedom. Let’s dive in the next journey of something obscure, mysterious and exciting!
The Carnevale di Venezia is one of the most famous and highly anticipated events in the world. It is a magnetic peculiarity and symbol of the “floating” city. This Carnival is a riveting mix of magnificent masquerades, street fairs, charming balls with a beautiful background of Venice. The Venice Carnival in its present form has been celebrated since 1979 when Italian government and Venetian civic society decided to revive it as an attempt to boost interest in Venice and its rich customs and traditions. However, the original Carnevale di Venezia traces its roots back to the 12th century, if not earlier. Many of the traditions and extravagant, bizarre, fantastic highlights of today’s Carnival come straight from the Middle Ages.
Venice Carnival, which in 2020 will be held from February 8 to February 25 traditionally takes place in the days leading up to Lent. This magical event fills the streets with smiles and laughter, where you can see people wearing sumptuous costumes and masks. If you want to be fully immersed in the charming atmosphere of the festival, wear a costume or at least a Venetian mask. After all, the Venetian mask is the remarkable feature that makes Venice Carnival unique and it can be also a nice souvenir to bring home. If you want to be 100% involved in the celebration, then take a part in the costume contest, showing your outfit on stage at the Gran Teatro of Piazza San Marco.
Coming to Venice Carnival is not only about drinking and making fool of yourself wearing odd, fantastic, fairy-like costumes. For instance, you can discover hidden Venice on a Carnival-exclusive walking tour (be sure to book online in advance as these tours and events sell out quickly).
One more thing, you shouldn’t miss the Flight of the Angel or Volo dell’Angelo in Italian. This performance is free and also one of the most crowded ones during the entire program of the Carnival, so if you want to see it, arrive in Saint Mark’s Square ( Piazza San Marco) earlier, not later than 11 am. Also, every day at St. Mark’s Square you can contemplate the largest number of masqueraders between 10 am and 4 pm when the costume parades are going on.
While enjoying the pomp and pageantry of the constant procession of parades, don’t forget to taste something specifically from the local cuisine, for example, the sweet treat called frittelle. Experience the variety of Italian wine. It can taste like a symphony, a flawless performance or a euphoric salsa party. Relish full-flavored divine pasta. There is nothing better, than delectable pasta accompanied by heavenly wine, like Barolo or any other, depending on your unique taste. The marvelous culmination of your Carnival experience will be the fireworks show at St. Mark’s Square, which is said to be one of the most unforgettable moments of this great celebration.
Dreaming about Venice, mind that every good trip requires a great preparation. The Carnevale di Venezia is one of the most visited events in the world and hotels might get fully booked months in advance. Avoid paying extra and frittering away your money, get your booking as soon as possible. The most important, don’t forget to bring your costume and mask!
BENVENUTI AL CARNAVALE ! WELCOME TO CARNIVAL !
