The Venice Carnival is now world famous – and one of these days, I will make it over for their festivities. Why in February, why in February, always a tough time for me to get away. It always takes place during the ten days leading up to Shrove Tuesday. Carnival, being a pre-Lent festival, means ‘farewell to meat’ and is celebrated throughout Italy.
It was first held in Venice in the 11th century and consisted of over two months of revelry, until it fell into decline during the 18th century.
It was revived in 1979 with great success and nowadays it is a great excuse to don a mask and costume, parade around the city, enjoy the live music in the main squares of the city, the events organised by the tourist board and is a wonderful open-air festival where everyone can join in.
Carnival in the 18th century began with a series of balls in St Mark’s Square, as can be seen on the fresco on the walls of the famous café Quadri’s.
Fortunes were squandered every night of Carnival in the Ridotto Gambling casino, whatever the social status all the people wore costumes and masks, many connected to the Commedie del’Arte, Harlequin, Columbine, the Plague Doctor and of course the courtesans.
Fantastic costumes are displayed in St Mark’s Square and Venice is the perfect back-drop for amazing photographs.
Check out their video gallery here.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
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Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
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