Venice Carnival

Written by Viator, December 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Tip - When to Go, Festival

In stark contrast to Carnival festivities in Rio, New Orleans and elsewhere, the Carnival of Venice, like the city that hosts it, is straight out of a historical drama. Resurrected by the Italian government in the 1970s as part of their attempt to promote Venetian culture, Carnival centers on the profusion of elaborate masquerade masks worn by the city’s residents and the more than 30,000 annual visitors who attend the two week-long festival.

Commedia Dell'Arte and Chow

Beginning February 2nd, the annual festival is of a decidedly stately affair by comparison, but it is certainly an occasion for excess, self-expression, and sensuality. Acting troupes and performers engage in various forms of commedia dell'arte, street theatre and juggling, and epic proportions of traditional Venetian food and wine are consumed.

Bautas, Morettas, and Voltos

Whenever you choose to join in the festivities, you’ll first have to choose a mask. Throughout the festival, revelers conceal their identities with various styles of masks. Bautas are the main type of mask worn, and feature elaborate gilding and a rigid chin line that does not conceal the mouth. Morettas, oval masks made of velvet, are typically worn by women. Voltos and Larvas, very plain, unadorned masks, were the norm for centuries, but have largely fallen out of fashion.

Fat Tuesday

The celebration reaches a fever pitch on the evening before Ash Wednesday and the coming of Lent. The employment of masks has the primary effect of stripping the city of its traditionally rigid set of class distinctions. This has historically had the effect of freeing citizens up to interact on more intimate terms with people outside of their class. With globalization, these distinctions have lessened somewhat, but Carnival remains a unique opportunity for foreigners interested in sampling a cross-section of Venetian society.

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All Venice Carnival Reviews

Reply by Viator, August 2011
Doing what: Skip the Line: Venice Walking Tour with St Mark's Basilica

This tour was really worth the money! The guide was so knowledgable; her grasp of Venetian history was amazing and she managed to get us into San Marc's without too much difficulty, especially as it was end of Carnival and the throngs of 'popolo' were horrendous. The 'hidden Venice' was fascinating. Wonderful experience.

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Reply by Viator, March 2010
Doing what: Skip the Line: Venice in One Day

We really enjoyed the tour. However, because we did this during Carnivale, a time when there are massive crowds, it was a bit hard to hear the guide speaking and it was difficult to keep the group together. We would recommend you do this tour when it is little less busy.

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Reply by Viator, February 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Venice Walking Tour with St Mark's Basilica