Carnival in Venice is an elegant costume party in the streets, along the canals and in
The Princess and the Pea.
private villas. Locals and visitors spend a fortune on costumes and entry to the 600 Euro Private Balls.
Five thousand revelers crowded into St. Mark’s Square and chased away all the pigeons. Approximately 3,000,000 visitors come to Venice each day during Carnival. My friends and I bought a few bags of confetti, for one euro each, and spent hours sitting on a bridge throwing confetti at people passing by. Most locals had costumes so large you could not see their face, with hoop skirts and stuffed animals hanging off their arms.
I bought my sparkled mask in Florence, the day our visit, knowing how expensive the masks would be inside the city-and boy am I glad I did! My mask cost five Euro and the least expensive in Venice was fifteen Euro.
Who wins the best mask contest?
The last weekend before Fat Tuesday is the best weekend to venture to Venice for Carnival, for in the main square, Piazzetta San Marco, they host a contest for the best mask. A jury of international costume and fashion designers vote for “La Maschera piu bella”. Wonder if my mask will make the cut? What do you think?!
Costumed Venetians enjoying an espresso in St. Mark's Square
Costumed Venetians parade along the canals.