Just thinking of Venice brings visions of romance, mystery, beauty, history and excitement. An annual festival, the Carnival of Venice, fulfils those visions with its array of gala events, cotillions, dance productions, culinary delights, costume balls and elegant parties.
Typically the Carnival begins approximately two weeks before Ash Wednesday through Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. This fabulous event attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe. A pre-Lent festival, Carnival is observed and celebrated throughout Italy as a ‘farewell to meat’.
Carnival of Venice History
Venice hosted the first Carnival in the 11th century which lasted over two months as locals and visitors celebrated in style with fully costumed and masked balls taking place throughout the event. Performers provided colorful entertainment for the participants enjoying the revelry of the entire Carnival.
The festival continued into the 18th century but lost momentum and participant interest. In the early years of the century the Carnival consisted of balls in St. Mark’s Square and late night gambling in the Ridotto Casino. The fresco found today on the walls of world-famous café Quadri’s reflects the early Carnival celebrations.
Regardless of social status during that era, as all participants were in masks and costumes, everyone was allowed to enjoy the festivities. Elaborate costumes consisted of Harlequin, Columbine, courtesans, Commedie del’Arte and the Plague Doctor.
Luckily in 1979 it was revived and through the coming decades the local tourist board has worked extensively to create and maintain an amazing open-air festival with St. Mark’s Square being the focal point for costumes on display, entertainment and a gorgeous scenic backdrop.
February Celebrates the Beginning Carnival Festivities
On February 1, a Cotillion will take place at the Hotel Danieli beginning at 5:00 p.m. The afternoon can be spent participating in dance classes offering dance steps from minuets and cotillions of the 1700s. Participants should follow the costume dress code.
The next day, revelers can attend one of many hotel events offered in the city starting with the Bauerlesque Party at the Hotel Bauer offering an avant-garde entertainment experience. Local artists will provide music and performances to heighten the romance accompanied by savoury menus to temp the palette. The dress code for this event is elegant or costume.
Perhaps the Gala Dinner and Ball at the Al Ridotto is more to the liking. It will take place at the Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, Dandola Palace. The Hall of Ridotto was the heart of extravagant Carnival related activities in the 18th century. The Gala will include cocktails, the elegant dinner, group dances, theatre performances, and the voice of Casanova narrating adventures in English.
Costume and mask balls, operas, galas, chocolate tastings, religious ceremonies, fabulous culinary events and street celebrations will light up the city of Venice for the next few weeks.
The Importance of Online Media for Events
The Carnival of Venice is promoted worldwide in various manners. With the broad power and audience of the Internet, events such as the Carnival are widely publicized via online media with articles and content writing on websites and blogs. Augustus Collection offers a full service writing department offering a variety of writing services including website content, blog articles, marketing collateral, press releases, social media, newsletters, editing and proofreading. Our team of writers is experienced in all aspects of content writing with an established portfolio of clients. Visit our Social A+ program for more information.
About Augustus Collection
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