In this post I’d like to share with you one of my sparkling moments of 2017.
Last year spending couple of days at the Venice Carnival left such a deep impression, more than any other trip I have taken.
Carnevale di Venezia is undoubtedly one of the most famous carnivals in the world. The beautiful costumes and typical Venetian masks transforms the city in a magical way. The glamour of it all will make you wish you lived in a different time period.
My trip to Vencie started in Munih. I took the night train and was after 8,5 hours sleep at the railway station in Venezia Mestre. As soon as I stepped off of the train I was surrounded by water. And like the stereotypical tourist i jumped in excitement and ran to the water to take pictures of the beautiful buildings and the gran canal. I couldn’t believe that I made it to Venice. It was not my first time.
I wanted to really get into the spirit of the carnival and immerse in whatever was going on in Venice.
To get started in style, I made my way to a shop which sells masks and rents costumes. Because I had not booked a date to try the costumes, I had to wait a little bit. Upon selection a costume, the transformation into a lady was a memorable experience. A dresser was needed to tie the corset, put on the underskirt and finally the dress. It is then topped off with a distinctive feather. The result made me feel like a princess. In my first post ‚introduction‘ there is a picture, where you can see me in the fitting room.
As soon as I went out of the store, I dived into the fantastic world of the Carnevale di Venezia.
Venice has a unique atmosphere at this notable time of year, it is an ideal stage to perform like a person from the Renaissance.
One of the most important events during the Venice Carnival is the contest for the most beautiful mask (la Maschera piú bella), which is judged by international costume and fashion designers.
Another highlight was the Flight of the Angel, an event which marks the official beginning of Carnival and takes place at noon in St. Mark’s Square. The angel is launched harness from the balustrade just below the ‚angel‘ which sits on top of the Bell Tower and she glides to earth along steel ropes, all of which is accompanied by music from Vivaldi.
One of the things you have to do when you visit Venice is to take a Gondola ride. For about 40 minutes you see the Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Barberino, Bridge of Sighs and all of the other romantic landmarks. Everywhere you look there is something special. It really is a memorable experience.
The official start is on Saturday at 6 PM with, The „Festa Veneziana“ is the opening ceremony of the Venice Carnival. A big show on the Rio di Cannaregio. The performance with acrobats and music on the water is always very impressive. An outstanding evening show will bring music, rhythm, joy and it is a truly a unique experience.
I couldn’t make it to a ball. The balls are mostly concentrated on the last days and they can be pricey (300-2000€ per ticket). It’s important to point out that attending a ball is only one way to experience Carnevale. The most popular way is in the streets, in cafes and at the theater. There are many events on which you can attend during the Venice Festival each year.
You can find more information about the event on the official website of the Venetian Carnival.
Of course, where there is carnival there is carnevale food, and it tends to be sweet and fried. My favorite were the „fritelle“, fried sweet dumplings made with either baking powder and eggs or with yeast. The other traditional sweet is the „Galani“, a sheet of crisp sugar pastry made with flour, eggs butter and sugar. Don’t forget to taste a Bellini cocktail which consists of puréed white peaches and ‚Prosecco‘.
This year the Venice Carnival runs from January 27 until February 13.
I am happy that I had the opportunity to attend the Venice Carnival. Next time I will plan a longer stay to experience the carnival in full swing.
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