Venice Carnival: where traditional parades.
The Venice Carnival is one of the most charismatic and unavoidable events in Europe. It was first officially recognised in 1296, when it became the city's official festival, gaining popularity that continues to this day. Shall we find out more about this celebration?
When will the Venice Carnival take place in 2025?
This event begins two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends only on Carnival Tuesday, known as Martedì Grasso or Mardi Gras. It is a popular festival that marked the pre-Lenten period and signified the ‘farewell to meat’.
In 2025, the Venice Carnival celebrates the 300th anniversary of the famous character ‘Giacomo Casanova’. It will begin on 14 February in Piazza San Marco, taking advantage of Valentine's Day. It runs until 4 March.
Venice's Carnival lives between wealth and tradition.
What started out as a popular festival quickly became a much sought-after event for the aristocracy, who came from all over to experience the Venice Carnival. It was believed that the freedom the nobles felt in being able to mingle with the citizens and enjoy themselves as a commoner was an asset to Venice's reputation.
What seemed like a foregone conclusion was brought to a forced halt by the occupation of Venice by Napoleon's troops in 1797. Fearing that it would be used for conspiracies, the Venice Carnival was banned and only revived in 1979. Several events have been rescued from the original, while others have been added. Discover them here.
There are parties for all tastes at the Venice Carnival.
Venice is worth a visit. Its canals and imposing buildings challenge the most curious to explore its narrow streets at any time of year. However, when it comes to the Venice Carnival, our cultural agenda has plenty to choose from. These are the main events:
Water Parade: this is the first celebration of the Venetian Carnival, when various boats of different sizes and decorated in different ways add colour to the Canareggio Canal.
Volo dell'Angelo (or ‘Angel's Flight’): a Venetian dressed as a columbine (which you can find further down in the list of best-known disguises) is launched from the top of St Mark's Bell Tower, flying over the courtyard of the Doge's Palace.
Mask and Costume Contest: held in St Mark's Square, this is one of the most popular events.
Feast of the Maries: this celebration is held in memory of the twelve girls who were honoured annually by the Doge. Nowadays, a jury chooses the most beautiful of the Marias to become the columbine who will star in the ‘Volo dell'Angelo’ the following year.
Flight of the Eagle: this is one of the most modern celebrations and highlights the city's leading sports personalities. As a tribute, some athletes are invited to do the ‘Flight of the Angel’ but dressed as eagles.
The Flight of the Lion: a huge Venetian flag flies over a crowded St Mark's Square while the city's anthem plays.
The Race of Silence: this is the end point of the Venice Carnival. It's a parade of traditional boats that travel in total silence along the Grand Canal to the Barefoot Bridge.
Carnival for children: the city's various squares host circus, theatre, clowns, acrobatics and musical shows every day of Carnival.
These are just some of the most popular events. However, the Venice Carnival also includes incredible masked balls organised by the city's hotels and museums that open their doors to the revelry.
Discover the most famous masks of the Venice Carnival.
To think of the Venice Carnival without associating it with the spectacular masks and costumes is unthinkable. It is said that these were inspired by the women of Constantinople, who arrived in Venice with their faces covered and aroused the curiosity of the inhabitants.
Little by little, workshops sprang up all over the city dedicated exclusively to their construction, the ‘mascareri’. Specialised in making masks, they create different types for tourists, but there is a list that will delight everyone.
The masks of the Venice Carnival.
The most popular masks are Pantalone, Arlecchino, Fracanapa, Moretta, Pulcinella, Gnaga, Bauta, Pierrot and Colombine.
Arlecchino - ‘the Harlequin’: is one of the best-known characters. He used to wear patched clothes but evolved into the well-known lozenge costume he is still seen in today. His mask is black, with a large red spot on his forehead.
Pulcinella: like Harlequin, he originated in the Commedia dell'Arte. He is a hunchback who chases women, with a long nose that looks like a beak. His mask is usually black, and he wears a long white coat.
Pierrot: possibly one of the best known. He's handsome and gentle, with his face painted white and a small tear on his cheek.
Colombine: known for wearing heavy make-up and holding a tambourine. The mask only covers half his face.
Bauta: with a black tricorn on a white face. He is known as the plague doctor.
What to try during the Venice Carnival.
If there's one place where Carnival has a special flavour, it's Venice. Take advantage of your visit to try some of the city's typical sweets.
Venetian Frittelle: a kind of small cake in which the dough resembles that of a doughnut. It can include sultanas and pine nuts and is flavoured with citrus zest.
Tiramisù: not exactly a Carnival treat, but do you really want to go to Italy and not try its best-known dessert? It consists of biscuits soaked in coffee, with a special cream of mascarpone cheese, sugar, eggs and sometimes Marsala wine.
Chiacchiere: sweet, fried and crispy dumplings, traditional for Carnival.
Go with Enterprise to the Venice Carnival.
On your international adventure, you can trust Enterprise to take you to the Venice Carnival. We have hundreds of car hire locations around the world, including in Italy. If you fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), you'll find our team waiting for you and the most suitable car to make your experience complete.