The Magic and Mystery of Carnevale
Venice doesn’t need an excuse to feel otherworldly, but Carnevale takes it to another level. For a few weeks each year, the city transforms into a stage where past and present blur and everyone is part of the performance. Masks, mystery, and centuries-old traditions fill the air, turning every calle and canal into a dreamlike scene.
The Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia) is a centuries-old festival renowned for its masks and celebrations. Its origins trace back to 1162, when Venetians gathered in St. Mark's Square to celebrate a military victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia. The festival gained prominence during the Renaissance, with the Baroque Carnival in the 17th century enhancing Venice's prestigious image. However, it was abolished in 1797 under Emperor Francis II and remained dormant until its revival in 1979. Today, the Carnival attracts millions of visitors annually, drawn by the city's rich history, the costumes and the allure of Venetian culture.
Piazza San Marco is at the heart of it all, where the most ornate costumes and masks steal the show. Elaborate velvets, intricate lace, towering headdresses… Walking through the square feels like stepping into a living painting. Here, the best-dressed compete in La Maschera Più Bella, where judges pick the most stunning mask of the festival. But beyond the fashion, there’s a buzz of activity with street performers, musicians and dancers filling the air with energy.
Venice, however, is full of surprises, and the Carnevale spirit spills into other squares too. One moment, you’re watching a classical theatre performance in Campo Santo Stefano, the next, you’re holding your breath as acrobats defy gravity in Campo San Polo. Every corner offers something new, and it’s impossible to see it all… but that’s part of the fun.
Then there’s the Regata de Carneval su Mascarade a Due Remi, where masked rowers in traditional costumes glide through the Grand Canal in an elegant spectacle. Unlike the city’s famous regattas, this one is pure theatre, blending sport with the extravagant spirit of the festival. Watching the boats drift past, their reflections in the water, is a reminder that in Venice, even a race can feel poetic.
No Carnevale experience is complete without a taste of its sweetest traditions. Enter castagnole and frittelle, the deep-fried stars of Venetian street food during Carnival. Whether dusted with sugar or bursting with cream, these bite-sized sweet pastries are impossible to resist. One is never enough, and by the end of the festival, I lost count.
And then comes Venice at night, when the energy shifts. The masked crowds thin, the canals darken, and the city becomes eerily quiet. Fog drifts between ancient buildings, and lanterns flicker in the distance, casting long shadows on empty streets. There’s something both haunting and beautiful about it, like the ghost of a party lingering long after the music has stopped.
Carnevale di Venezia is an experience that stays with you. It’s the feeling of stepping into another era, the thrill of the unknown behind a mask, and the magic of a city that knows how to keep its secrets. Because if there’s one thing Venice does best, it’s making reality feel like a dream.
