When is carnevale celebrated

A programme of events takes place in the Piazza, open to everyone. A schedule is displayed on notices around the square or pick up a calendar at the tourist office. Apart from the organised events, there is a lot of fun to be had costume-spotting. Costumed characters parade and preen throughout the day, happily posing for armies of photographers.

Some are in greater demand than others; after half-an-hour's wandering you'll probably have your own favourites. To add to the festival atmosphere, there are usually refreshment stalls in the Piazza selling snacks and drinks like mulled wine, local Bellini cocktails and the local speciality fritelle , a popular festive doughnut sold everywhere in Venice around Carnival time.

The grand opening celebration of the Carnival takes place on the first Sunday, with an event called il volo dell'angelo the flight of the angel.

This adaptation of an old tradition involves an 'angel', often notable for the randomness of choice: past years have featured a swimming champion, the rapper Coolio, a minor socialite and Venetian carnival participants swinging on harnesses from the belltower into the Piazzetta San Marco. One of the big events is the afternoon parade of costumes on a catwalk in St. Mark's Square. If your costume is fabulous and you're feeling confident, then you can join in.

The festival ends with a big celebration and fireworks above St. There are a number of special events and balls held in Venice during the Carnival. Tickets are generally expensive and should be booked in advance, but if you've left it late, it's still worth calling around.

Venice's opera house, La Fenice, hosted one grand event last year, and some of the smarter hotels also put on balls and parties. If you've always had a secret hankering to wear fancy dress, then the Carnival is a perfect opportunity to indulge without attracting stares. Masks, cloaks and wigs are easily purchased at countless tourist shops and souvenir stalls.

Costumes can be hired at shops throughout the city, but they may be in short supply if you don't book them promptly. This little market is made up of stalls from some of Venice's artisan mask and costume workshops, and runs for the duration of the Carnival. Carnevale in Italy was traditionally a period when roles were reversed — men and women, nobility and commoners.

Today the period of Carnevale is a time when people put their daily lives on hold to laugh at themselves, their leaders and their world. What incredible talent. We know this slideshow was a time consuming labor of love. This is awesome, thanks for the info bro. Love, Mike Hunt. My friend Dixie normous says thanks, too. Needed it so bad.

Thanks so much. Your email address will not be published. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Tags Carnevale Italy Italian Carnevale.

Bio Latest Posts. Jackie Willey. During the 40 days of Lent, parties were forbidden and meat, sugar and fats were off-limits. Carnival fit in perfectly as a last hurrah and a way to finish all the stores of rich food and drink before Lent.

After weeks of mischief and parties, expect a more pious and solemn atmosphere in Italy during the weeks of Lent. Easter in Italy is as strongly felt and celebrated as Christmas.

Officially, Carnevale is held on Fat Tuesday — in that is on February 25 — but of course the weekend before sees celebrations just as big or even bigger!

Future Carnival dates are February 16, ; March 1, ; and February 21, Though everyone knows of the masks and parades of Venice, every town in Italy, even the smallest, has its own Carnevale parade. Small towns will have day care centers and school children march in the street or ride atop team-made floats and school bands play.

Bigger cities will bring together floats, bands, dance troupes and group costumes for the parades. There are some cities, however, that regularly outdo themselves. Here are some of the biggest, most famous Carnival celebrations in all of Italy:. Full of mystery, mischief and intrigue, the Carnival of Venice is undoubtedly one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the entire world. Created as an allowance for citizens for some fun and revelry, the mask fit in perfectly, allowing citizens to celebrate independently of social class or religion.

Carnival masks remained a fixture through the Renaissance, and masked comedy troupes would perform in the piazzas of Venice in the 16th century. These same masks and bacchanalia were banned by the Austrians in the 18th century and again by Mussolini in the s.

After many years, the holiday returned in in a celebration of the history and culture of Venice. Visitors can view events like the water parade, mask competitions or the infamous flight of the angel, or simply stroll the UNESCO World Heritage city and to see the elaborate and unique costumes.

Today roughly 3 million people travel to Venice to participate in the infamous festa Veneziana, making it the most important event of the city and the biggest carnival celebration in Italy.

Another one of the most important Carnival celebrations in Italy is in Viareggio, on the coast of Tuscany. The celebration is most known for these elaborate and impressive floats, made with extraordinary detail and engineering. The tradition is so important, that float-makers begin their work an entire year before Carnival!

Besides the allegorical floats, the entire Carnival of Viareggio is followed by all night musical dances in the streets.