Carnival of Venice Event Carnival

Carnival of Venice: Masks and Tradition

Carnival of Venice is one of Europe’s oldest popular celebrations: its first written mention dates back to 1162, originally linked to a military victory of the Republic. A major festival of Venetian life for centuries, it fell into disuse after the fall of the Republic in 1797 and truly revived only in the late 1970s, on the initiative of the city, which turned it into the international event it is today.

Each edition takes place over about two weeks before Ash Wednesday, so between late January and early March depending on the Easter calendar. It opens with a grand parade (the Festa Veneziana, a water procession) and closes on Shrove Tuesday with the "Svolo del Leon," the symbolic flight of the Lion of Saint Mark over the Piazza.

The rest of the program combines costumed balls in the palazzi (often ticketed and by reservation), a contest for the most beautiful mask in Piazza San Marco, street performances, and events in several neighborhoods of the city. Costumes are inspired by Commedia dell’arte and 18th-century Venetian style, with the bauta and tricorn as emblematic silhouettes.

Plan ahead: Venice books up several weeks in advance for this period; reserving accommodation and restaurants early is essential.