About Venice Carnival
Elaborate masks and Baroque costume along the canals.
The Carnival of Venice fills the world's most theatrical city with elaborate masks and sumptuous eighteenth-century costumes in the weeks before Lent, a spectacle of masked balls, gondolas and figures posing silently in St Mark's Square. Its origins lie in a time when masks briefly erased the distinctions of class. Today it is at once an elegant heritage event and a photographer's dream, especially in the misty light of a Venetian winter morning. Even without a ball ticket, simply wandering the masked, uncrowded off-season city is magical.
“The most theatrical city on earth in full masquerade. Eerie, elegant and unforgettable.”
Plan your trip
Where to stay
Hotels & stays near Venice
Tours & experiences
Things to do around Venice
Tickets & official info
Venice Carnival official site
Getting there
Flights to Italy
Traveller reviews
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