Venice Carnavale
The origins of the Carnival in Venice are similar to many carnivals in the world. The Carnival starts two weeks before Lent begins and ends on the last day before Lent...Shrove Tuesday. The origin of the festivities is the will to consume all the meat before Lent (Carne = meat and Vale = farewell, hence, Carnival).
The Carnival has no obvious religious significance. It's about drinking, disorder, roll reversing, blurring social status, costumes and masks, dancing, plays, parades and festivals all over town.
During Carnival people wear masks and costumes of different kinds: Costumes that symbolize characters from mythology, costumes related to nature, to legend, to styles and historic eras, to church characters, and to characters from the comedia del Arte. The most famous character in the Carnival of Venice is the doctor wearing black robe and white mask, born after the plague in Europe, when doctors were careful not to catch the disease from their patients.
In 1980 the Carnival tradition in Venice was renewed, after a long period. The Carnival is celebrated by costume parades, Gondola sailing, games and parties in the ancient palaces. The Carnival in Venice takes place each year in February. During this period the streets fill with artists, acrobats and musicians and the whole city is filled with people and very lively.
Apart from all the action in the streets there are also private events such as masked balls and gala dinners.
I attended the Carnival in Venice with Jonathan Maher of VSP Workshops in 2011. http://www.vspworkshops.com February/March may not be the best weather in northern Italy, however, if you prepare, it will be a fabulous cultural and learning experience.
Read MoreThe Carnival has no obvious religious significance. It's about drinking, disorder, roll reversing, blurring social status, costumes and masks, dancing, plays, parades and festivals all over town.
During Carnival people wear masks and costumes of different kinds: Costumes that symbolize characters from mythology, costumes related to nature, to legend, to styles and historic eras, to church characters, and to characters from the comedia del Arte. The most famous character in the Carnival of Venice is the doctor wearing black robe and white mask, born after the plague in Europe, when doctors were careful not to catch the disease from their patients.
In 1980 the Carnival tradition in Venice was renewed, after a long period. The Carnival is celebrated by costume parades, Gondola sailing, games and parties in the ancient palaces. The Carnival in Venice takes place each year in February. During this period the streets fill with artists, acrobats and musicians and the whole city is filled with people and very lively.
Apart from all the action in the streets there are also private events such as masked balls and gala dinners.
I attended the Carnival in Venice with Jonathan Maher of VSP Workshops in 2011. http://www.vspworkshops.com February/March may not be the best weather in northern Italy, however, if you prepare, it will be a fabulous cultural and learning experience.
Popular gondola boarding area north of Piazza San Marco on the Fondamenta Orseolo and Rio del Bacina Orseolo
