Along the streets and canals of Venice, the carnival animates the ‘fattest period of the year’ with an explosion of masks and colours.
Its origins go back as far as 1094, and it is generally attributed to the Serenissima’s need to grant the population a period dedicated entirely to fun and festivities, during which Venetians and foreigners poured into the city to party.
The anonymity that masks and costumes guaranteed meant that at this time of year there was a sort of levelling out between the various social classes.
Still today, as in the past, the Carnival of Venice is a great popular festival for a wide audience of all ages and nations. Events of all kinds and parties in the square enliven the days of the groups of masked people, who merrily walk the streets of the city.
During the carnival celebrations, numerous private parties and masked balls are organised inside the historic Venetian palaces, where one can relive the splendours of the past.
One of the first events within the carnival is the ‘Festa delle Marie’, beautiful maidens are carried in a procession on sedan chairs by gondoliers from San Pietro di Castello to the stage of the Gran Teatro. The Marys then return to St Mark’s Square for the proclamation of the Carnival Mary.
The ‘Flight of the Angel’ sees the descent from the bell tower to St Mark’s Square of the beautiful winner of the previous Marie competition.
The ‘Festa Querinissima’ brings traditional cuisine under the ancient arches of the Rialto fish market, accompanied by Veneto wines and traditional music and entertainment.
The evening events of the Carnival are usually concentrated at the Arsenale. The ancient shipyard of the Most Serene Republic of Venice is thus transformed between magic, theatre, music and sensational pyrotechnic effects on the water in the Carnival at the Arsenal.
During the ‘fat’ week, from Thursday to Tuesday, an explosion of events, parties, and parades will involve the entire area, starting from St. Mark’s Square, with the final of the Carnival’s Most Beautiful Mask competition and the ‘Flight of the Eagle’ from St. Mark’s Bell Tower, passing through the Arsenal where six nights of partying will take place with the events of the Carnival at the Arsenal, and ending on the mainland where the ‘Flight of the Donkey’ will take place between the Tower and Piazza Ferretto.
The Grand Finale on Shrove Tuesday sees the ‘Svolo del Leon’, the majestic banner of St. Mark’s that is hoisted from the stage of the Gran Teatro to the Campanile, symbolising the end of Carnival.
Photo Credit: ©G.Miele/guidesmart, ©Marinella Marruzzino/guidesmart, ©pic:Vision/Vela
Video: ©G.Miele/guidesmart