The Venice Carnival, famous for its lavish and mysterious masks, is an extraordinary celebration rooted in the thousand-year history of this fascinating city.
In the past, wearing a mask during Carnival was a way to escape social conventions, allowing everyone to participate in the festivities anonymously. Today, sumptuous dresses and richly decorated costumes transform the streets into a veritable stage of elegance and creativity.
When does the Venice Carnival start?
The Venice Carnival officially begins 11 days before Shrove Tuesday, which is the last day of celebrations before Lent. The start date of the Carnival therefore varies each year, as Easter is a movable feast that falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
To find out the exact start date for a given year, it is advisable to check the specific calendar for that year or check the official Venice Carnival website for up-to-date information.
What to do during the Venice Carnival
1. Wear a costume
To immerse yourself even more in the carnival atmosphere, wear a costume – even better if it's period! You can have fun creating your own personalised costume – some Venetians claim to work on theirs for up to six months – or you can visit one of the city's ateliers to hire the one you prefer.
2. Take part in the characteristic events of the carnival
• Costume parades in St. Mark's Square: one of the most spectacular moments of the Venice Carnival is the parade of masks in St. Mark's Square. This event is an exceptional opportunity to admire the most beautiful, extravagant and original costumes in the city. You can see all the traditional costumes up close, from the Commedia dell'Arte to 18th-century Venice.
• The Festa delle Marie: this usually takes place on the second Saturday of Carnival and passes through the historic centre, ending in St Mark's Square. The protagonists of the procession are the “Marie”, 12 young women who, in their sumptuous dresses, represent Venetian beauty and elegance.
• The Festa Veneziana sull'Acqua: gondolas, sandoli and other typical Venetian boats are beautifully decorated to represent the theme of the Carnival. The people on board wear elaborate costumes and masks, helping to create a festive and magical atmosphere. The parade winds its way through the main canals of Venice, offering a unique and fascinating spectacle to spectators along the banks.
• The ‘Flight of the Angel’: a highlight of the Venice Carnival, symbolising tradition, spectacle and magic, which captivates all the visitors who gather in large numbers every year in St. Mark's Square. It involves a young woman dressed in an angel costume, symbolising innocence and purity, who launches herself from St Mark's bell tower and glides across the square, suspended from a steel cable, leaving everyone breathless.
3. Taste the typical dishes and desserts
It's not carnival without frìtole, traditional empty or filled fritters, and tasty galani, which you may know as chiacchiere or bugie di carnevale.... Every pastry shop in the city has them, and you can't miss the chance to try them both! In addition to desserts, Venice offers a wide variety of typical dishes, including baccalà alla veneziana (Venetian-style salt cod) and baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod), sarde in saor (sardines in sauce), bigoli in salsa (pasta with sauce), fegato alla veneziana (Venetian-style liver) and much more.
4. Enjoy an aperitif in the typical bars and bacari
Between one mask and another, take the opportunity to stop at a Bacaro, a small traditional bar with a wide selection of “ombre” or local wines and “cicchetti”, typical snacks made with traditional Venetian ingredients. Don't forget to stop by the bars under the Procuratie, where you can often admire the masks participating in the “Most Beautiful Mask” competition.
5. Discover Venice with our tours
In Venice, it is always the right time to enjoy the beauty of the city, even more so when you put yourself in the hands of the most experienced. With our organised tours, you will be able to enjoy the essence of Venice to the fullest, from historical monuments to breathtaking views, from the most curious stories to the most unusual sights, from rides on traditional gondolas to glassblowing demonstrations. Discover all our tours here
Enjoy the magic of this extraordinary event in maximum comfort thanks to our free shuttle service. If you book a stay of at least two nights directly on our website, the shuttle to the heart of Venice is free, so you won't have to worry about parking or public transport.
