Carnevale di Venezia: Carnival of Venice

We'd just returned from the Venice Carnival 2022. The carnival costumes and Venetian masks were spectacular, and there were so many interesting people to talk to. Venice is a busy city at the best of times, but not this year. Without the crowds, it was much easier to enjoy the celebration. I believe it is an event that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. I have complied a list of things I saw and learnt whilst there.

The history of the festival

The legendary mask festival of Venice, or ‘Carnevale’, began following the victory of the Venetian Republic over Aquileia in 1162; the people of the republic celebrated in Piazza di San Marco and the streets surrounding it. Historians describe the event at times as complete madness. In Bianca Mazzarotto’s ‘Le Feste Veneziane’ she describes how the people "all regarded themselves as equals in their heedless exuberance". Venetians were known to wear masks to meet at a café or go to the theatre. Masks were a part of the Venetian identity, whether the Carnivale was on or not.

The festival was outlawed in 1797 after Venice came under the control of Austria, but returned in the late 1970s. It was reintroduced as a way to revive interest in the history and culture of Venice. Initially, the Venice Carnival was only for locals. But now, approximately 3 million tourists visit the Carnival of Venice each year. The historic festival has it all: dazzling costumes, travellers from far and wide, exciting events and activities.

Carnevale Costumes

• You can rent outfits by the day. They can, however, be expensive, starting at €250/day.

• There are markets dotted around Venice where you can buy masks, starting from €2.

Carnevale Events

Public events of the Venice Carnival are free, but the ones I have listed below are not. The tickets for these events start from €160 to €3,500 each.

• The Doge's courtesans ball

• Opera Gala Dinner

• Chocolate Show

• Mascheranda Gran Ballo

• Carnival Ball: The glass slippers

• Carnival Mystery Dinner

We did not attend these events whilst we were there (due to the price). We did, however, attend the "Al via Nebula Solaris all’Arsenale di Venezia". The Venetian Water Festival was held at the Arsenale, a unique open-air theatre that commemorated the 2022 Carnival and the 1,600th anniversary of the founding of Venice.

It was an artistic fusion of live performance and technology, all fitted out with incredible scenography for the stage. Including amazing music, dance, lights, boats, fire, and even water jet packing.