The Venice Carnival is an annual costume festival held in Venice in February. The last day of Maslenitsa ends on the eve of Lent. The Venice Carnival was first mentioned in 1094, although masks were not used during the carnival until the 13th-14th centuries. In 1162, in honor of the victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia, a public celebration began in Piazza San Marco, which became an annual tradition. The Venice Carnival is a kaleidoscope of bright events, immense fun and unforgettable emotions. Hundreds of thousands of people take part in it. They prepare for it in advance, bringing unusual costumes and masks, hats and other attributes. Shops are full of carnival souvenirs, and rental shops offer costumes and masks. Venice turns into a fairy-tale world for more than two weeks.
The holiday will enchant, excite and surprise you. Venetians dressed in bright clothes and guests of one of the most romantic cities in the world stroll leisurely along the streets. You will meet them everywhere - in squares and bridges, in narrow streets and cafes, at parties and majlises. Tourists are constantly clicking cameras and mobile phones and taking a lot of photos and videos for memory. Loud groups move from one place to another and gather in St. Mark's Square in the evenings. They book hotel rooms and apartments in advance.
Since Easter is an exciting religious holiday, the Venice Carnival is planned accordingly. It lasts 18 days, although the main events take place during the last 11 days. The ceremony takes place in the historical district of Venice - Canareggio. It starts on Saturday at 19:00 local time and lasts all evening. Festively decorated boats float along the canal connecting the Grand Canal with the lagoon, on which actors, dancers and acrobats demonstrate their skills to the audience. The show is accompanied by beautiful light and music compositions. On the beaches you can try a variety of Venetian cuisine.
On the second opening day, Sunday, a beautiful event begins at 10:30. Variously decorated boats and gondolas, driven by boatmen dressed in colorful clothing, float along the “Grand Canal” from Punta della Dogana to Rio di Canaregio. Along the way, they are greeted by enthusiastic spectators, and after the event, guests are offered traditional Venetian cicchetti, delicacies and sweets.
On the second Saturday of the carnival there is a festival called "Maria" (Festa delle Marie): twelve girls, two from each sestiere (historical districts in Venice ), dressed in identical medieval or Renaissance dresses, are placed on a kind of stretcher, carried in arms from the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello to Piazza San Marco, and the “Mary of the Year” is chosen. (Two months before the start of the carnival, qualifying competitions are held among Venetian girls 18-28 years old.)
In the middle of the 16th century, during the Venice Carnival, an unusual event occurred: a Turkish acrobat managed to walk along a rope stretched from a docked ship to the bell tower of St. Mark's Cathedral. The Venetians liked this show so much that they included it in the official program with different variations. This was later developed into a winged man rapid descent using a tension rope and rope loops. Brave people received a prize from the doge - money or a gift. In 1759, this event ended tragically: the acrobat hit the ground with all his might and died. Since then they have been using wooden pigeons to fly. Since 2011, “Flight of an Angel” has been performed by last year’s winner “Maria” - a girl dressed in a luxurious dress slowly descends from the bell tower of San Marco towards the Palazzo Ducale, where she is greeted by the “Doge”. Along the way, Maria scatters candy and greets the Venetians and guests of the city, waving her arms:
Angel's Flight is scheduled for the second Sunday of the carnival. This marks the start of the celebrations in Piazza San Marco. “The Flight of the Eagle” takes place there, but next Sunday. He was included in the program in 2012, after Maria played the role of “Flying Angels”. "Eagles" - athletes, musicians, models, entrepreneurs.
The carnival program also includes a competition for the best mask, costume and headdress, “Flight of the Donkey” - a parody of “Flight of the Eagle” (held in Mestre, in Piazza Ferretto), the “Street Show” festival (also in Piazza Ferretto), various events during the last five days of the holiday on the island of Burano, a parade of carnival floats in Margeri, a youth carnival in Zelarino.
On the last day of the carnival, from five to six in the evening, a huge flag with the symbol of Venice - a winged lion - flies over the heads of spectators. It is released in Piazza San Marco by twelve girls chosen this year by Maria.
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