Travel Guide to Venice Carnival

“The Venice Carnival, or Carnevale di Venezia, is one of the most famous carnival events in the world. Combining the beauty of Venetian masks with music, parades and ornate costumes, the Venice Carnival creates an enchanting atmosphere in the city.

If you’re planning to attend the Venice Carnival, here’s some advice and tips to ensure you get the most out of the experience.

Brief history of Venice Carnival
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The Venice Carnival has been a mainstay in the city for centuries, possibly dating back to 1162 when the city was celebrating its victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia. Some sources claim that the event goes back even further to the time of Doge Vitale Falier.

Throughout the years, the event has come and gone, and there was even a period in the late 1700s when the King of Austria banned the festival and the use of masks. Carnival came back into fashion in the form of private events, however, and became an officially organized event in the city in 1979.

The festivities and events of the Venice Carnival are influenced by historical events, which makes it distinctive from other popular carnivals in South America and parts of Europe.

What happens at the Venice Carnival?
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The Venice Carnival dates change each year and coincide with Shrove Tuesday, which is 40 days, plus Festival Sundays, before the Easter holiday. You can check the official Venice Carnival website for upcoming dates and events.

The Venice Carnival opens with a spectacular water show from Studio Festi and Seconda Materia at the Cannaregio sestiere. The show combines emotional imagery in dream-like sequences and cyberpunk journeys, as well as an acrobatics show.

The next day, the Regata delle Columbine takes place, which is the first regatta of the event. There’s a historical water parade of decorative boats after the race, and you can enjoy Venetian food and other entertainment during the race and parade.

After these events, the main festivities take place in Piazza San Marco. The scenery in the square sets the stage for costume parades and workshops with local artisans crafting shoes, masks and other traditional costume accessories.

The Parade of the Marie is a popular event in Carnival, which refers to the purification of Mary. This was a historic time when all marriages were blessed and the Doge offered jewels as a dowry to 12 impoverished Venetian girls. In 973, pirates came to Venice and kidnapped the girls and their gifted jewels, so the parade is in honour of the Virgin Mary, who helped to rescue them. The parade travels from San Pietro to San Marco and uses actors for historical re-enactments, and there’s an award ceremony for the winner on the last day of Carnival.

The gorgeous masks and costumes are an important part of the event, so there are numerous best masked costume competitions throughout Carnival. The participants show off on the San Marco stage and the winner is announced on the last day.

Flight of the Angel is one of the biggest events of Carnival and is even broadcast on television. The event dates back to the mid-16th century when a young acrobat walked up to the Campanile on a long rope that was attached to his boat as a tribute to the doge. The event was recreated throughout the years until one of the acrobats had a tragic accident, leading to a ban of the event.

In 2001, the event returned and was given the name Flight of the Angel, and a young girl performed the famous rope walk again. Since 2011, the designated Angel has been the previous year’s winner of the Festa delle Marie and marks the beginning of the festivities.

Venetian balls
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In addition to the many public parades and re-enactments, Venice Carnival also has masked balls throughout the city. These events typically include dinner, a performance and music, sometimes with an interactive theatre experience. Though they can be pricey to attend, the balls are an unforgettable experience of entertainment from professional talent.

How to get there and where to stay
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If you’re travelling to Venice from outside of the country, it’s best to fly into Venice International Airport. If you’re travelling from within Italy, you can take a train or a bus to the city.

Since many of the Carnival events take place near or in the square, the hotels nearby are the best option. Keep in mind, however, that these hotels tend to be more expensive and book early because of their location. If these hotels are booked, you can still find plenty of accommodation close to the action in other parts of the city.

Helpful tips
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If you want to experience Venice Carnival to the fullest, here are some tips:

– Carnival has many costumed people in elaborate masks and traditional garb like capes and gowns. If you want to take part, you can wear a Venetian masquerade mask and gown, or just an ornate, colourful costume. Some attendees just wear a masquerade mask with comfortable clothing, so you have plenty of festive options.
– Most of the events are free to attend, but events like balls and dinners require advance payment or tickets. These can be expensive. You can check the official Venice Carnival website to see the event dates and prices to see which you’d like to attend.
– Restaurants tend to be busy during Carnival, especially closer to the square. It’s a good idea to research the nearby restaurants and make reservations. Be sure to use the restroom while you’re there, since public restrooms are hard to come by during the parades.
– Carnival is a winter event, so it may be cold or rainy. Be sure to pack versatile clothing and bring additional layers with you as you attend the events.

If you’re planning to attend the Venice Carnival, Expedia can help. Take a look at Venice holidays to get great deals on travel and accommodation and prepare for your experience!”