10 Reasons You’ll Want To Visit Venice During Carnevale
While Carnival is a tradition that is celebrated in cities worldwide, certain festivals seem to stand out among the rest. When I think Carnival, images of bead-wearing Mardi Gras goers in New Orleans or dancers in Rio come to mind. However, perhaps one of the most iconic and oldest of Carnival traditions is the Italian Carnevale.
While it is true that Carnevale is celebrated in many cities through Italy, no one does Carnevale quite like the Venetians! From incredible masks and costumes to the beautiful scenery of Venice itself, I highly recommend heading to Venice Carnevale if you find yourself in Italy during the month of February (this year’s festivities run February 11-28th). I had the opportunity to visit Venice during Carnevale last year and was amazed by the rich tradition I discovered there-keep reading to see why you’ll want to head to this iconic festival!
1. The Rich History of Carnevale
Did you know that Carnevale was first celebrated in Venice in the 11th century, and has been an official celebration since the 13th century? That’s a pretty long standing tradition, and its totally amazing to witness a festival hundreds of years old in person.
2. The Incredible Masks
Let me start off by saying that the masks you’ll see at Carnevale are absolutely incredible. The tradition of mask wearing comes from the historical origins of Carnevale-during the festival, citizens of Venice were allowed to wander the streets disguised as whoever they wanted to be! Oftentimes, this meant role-reversals-men could parade around town as women, the wealthy could masquerade as commoners. Naturally, this anonymity led to quite a bit of debauchery-for this reason Carnevale was even outlawed over the years by certain leaders.
3. Masquerading Around Town
While it is possible to purchase a cheap plastic mask at Carnevale to join in the fun, many people take dressing up for Carnevale quite seriously. Walking around the famous St. Mark’s Square or some of Venice’s other touristy spots, you’ll quickly discover many festival goers decked out head to tow in elaborate costumed, complete with beautiful handcrafted porcelain or leather masks.
4. No One Does It Quite Like Venice
While it is true that Carnevale celebrations are held throughout Italy, the festival in Venice is certainly one of the most popular, and each year thousands of tourists and locals alike gather to enjoy the festivities. Visitors beware-Carnevale makes the already crowded streets of Venice even more packed with tourists that usual. (Which is honestly hard to imagine, considering 20 million people visit the city each year!)
5. The City’s Energy
While the city is exceptionally crowded during Carnevale, which can make a visit more challenging than usual, there is an unmistakable energy and buzz around Venice that is electrifying! If you are living in or studying abroad in Italy for a longer period of time, then I highly recommend visiting Venice twice-once during Carnevale to experience the atmosphere, and once more after or before to truly see the sights of Venice. That being said, if you only have the opportunity to visit once, you won’t regret the chance to explore the city during Carnevale.
6. The Festivities and Special Events
Each year the program of events varies, but there are guaranteed to be performances, fireworks, and other events that make Venice Carnevale truly spectacular. If you are planning a visit, be sure to check the official Venice Carnevale website to see which celebrations you won’t want to miss!
7. The Incredible Shopping
While you can purchase a Carnevale mask in Venice all year long, the city goes absolutely crazy for them during the festival. You’ll find vendors in stands and stores around every corner in Venice, each offering an array of masks. While many of these aren’t very authentic, you can hunt down stores which feature more expensive artisanal masks made of porcelain or leather which are simply beautiful. I definitely recommend leaving some time for shopping, even if you are only window shopping!
8. The Vibrant Colors
If I thought Venice was a colorful city before I visited Carnevale, then I was truly amazed by how many colors there were during Carnevale. Even though I visited on a rainy day in February, I was amazed by all of the colorful masks, costumes, and decorations that filled the city. They definitely helped brighten my mood as I was getting rained on!
9. Awesome Photo Opportunities
I don’t know about you, but I love taking photos while I’m exploring a new place. Whether you are seriously into photography or just love sharing your adventures on Instagram, you’ll be amazed at the incredible photo opportunities you’ll find around the festival. From the architecture of the city itself to the dressed up festival attendees to the famous pigeons that call Venice home, you won’t be short of inspiration.
10. It’s Truly Unforgettable
While I was fortunate enough to spend a year living and working in Italy, and have visited Venice several times, most people will only visit Venice once in their lifetime. A visit to the city at any time will be amazing, but a visit during Carnevale is truly unforgettable.
Did you like this post? Subscribe to access my free resource library-including my Ultimate Two Week Italy Itinerary!
Have you visited Venice during Carnevale, or is a visit on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
You might also like:
- Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
- 50 Travel Tips For Visiting Italy
- 10 Italy Quotes That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
Pin this for later!
