Starting February 13th 'til 24th, 2009

... posted by The Key to Italy.com staff

This celebration boasts very ancient origins in Venice: it seems to have been existed since the 10th century. Under the Venetian Republicam, celebrations lasted six weeks: from the 26th of December to Mardi Gras, until the bells announced the beginning of Lent. In this period people celebrated freely without any rescrictions all day long and and all sorts of actions were permitted. Everybody wore a mask, which temporarily abolished social differences. For two weeks St. Mark's Square, the theaters, streets, squares and public buildings become the protagonists of numerous initiatives and shows: Actors, acrobats, dancers and musicians bring a celebration atmosphere to the city for a few days, which is similar to that of the XVII century. Anyone wishing to sample aristocracy during the Carnival of Venice can go to the Venetian palaces which host masked balls and gala feasts in costume. The city is home to various fashion houses where you can rent or purchase splendid period costumes, wigs and masks.  The most theatrical and spectacular show was the “Volo dell’angelo” (Angel flight), today’s “Volo della Colombina” (flight of the little dove), whereby a man was secured with ropes around his waist and raised, through a series of pulleys, from the quay to the belfry of San Marco and then lowered to the Doge’s palace loggia in order to offer flower bunches and poems to the Doge who watched the performance from there. The carnival was abolished by Napoleon at the end of the 18th century. It was not until 1979 that it was resumed and taken back to its original splendour. Today, masks from all over the world crowd the Venetian squares, especially Piazza San Mark's area and its cafés. Traditional masks mingle with fanciful and extravagant costumes. Balls, parties, concerts and theatrical performances are organized and, out of respect for tradition, on the last day the effigy of carnival is burnt in Piazza San Marco.    

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