The Venice Carnival, when myth becomes reality

Venice 's Carnival has always been a feature of the city's calendar: this great popular festival strengthened social cohesion in the Serenissima thanks to the anonymity offered by masks and disguises. The powerful and the poor could rub shoulders at the parties, games and sacrifices organised during Carnival.

The mask, the key element of a Carnival costume, first appeared in the 13th century: there are still craftsmen in Venice who specialise in creating masks by hand! By the 16th century, the event had become so famous that it attracted European princes eager to indulge in the festivities...

The myth of the Venetian Carnival was complete in the 18th century, with its great figures such as Casanova, its transgressive codes and its disguises: the bauta, a half-mask with a bonnet, the tabarro, the cape, and the tricorn became a classic, as did the costumes of Harlequin and the characters of the Commedia dell'Arte.

In 1797, however, Napoleon, a bit of a killjoy, deprived Venice of its Carnival: the freedom and anonymity offered by the masks was not to the occupier's taste. This marked a long hiatus for the Venice Carnival, which was not officially reintroduced until 1980.

The Venice Carnival takes place in February, a fortnight before Mardi Gras. In other words, it's not the hottest time of the year, far from it, and you can still get your feet wet at an Acqua Alta!

This doesn't discourage thousands of visitors (a fairly common occurrence in Venice after all) from targeting the Carnival period as a time to visit Venice, whether as participants or just spectators. Be warned, this is a peak season, hotels are full and prices are going up.

The festivities kick off with the traditional Flight of the Angel in Piazza San Marco: a young woman, held in place by a rope, launches herself from the top of the Campanile to join the crowd in music. Another medieval tradition is the Feast of the Maries, which takes place every first Saturday of Carnival. Twelve young women in disguise parade between San Pietro Castello and Piazza San Marco, accompanied by a procession of dancers and musicians in period costumes.

In this spirit, the entire Carnival is marked by a treasure hunt and other entertainment, parades and dinner shows, special days in museums, operas, concerts... The programme changes with each edition.

But the main attraction is the splendid costumes you'll come across at random in the streets of Venice: Carnival aficionados come from all over the world (and many from France) to perform in costume, in thepurest Venetian tradition. Why not join in the fun at the next Carnival?

👉 When is the next Venice Carnival?

The dates of the Venice Carnival, usually in February, are fluid: they are set in relation to the day of Mardi Gras, which is shifted each year.

• In 2024, the Venice Carnival will take place from 3 to 13 February.

👉 Where can I find the programme of Venice Carnival festivities and events?

Various events take place to liven up the Carnival period: these evolve each year in their programming.

You can find the programme on the Venice Carnival website.