Venice: a unique city, full of stories and mysteries. Romantic city, but also one of the most popular locations to celebrate Carnival: an ancient tradition that is repeated annually and among the most loved by Venetians. It appears that the first official document relating to the Venice Carnival is an edict of 1296.
The masks of the Venetian Carnival are in fact among the most famous in the world. Fun is guaranteed in one of the most unique cities in the world. Also this edition of the funniest party of the year, promises not to be outdone. Many events will be held from February 8th to 25th, 2020.
The program is dense and promises to amaze Venetians and tourists, who live these moments with great participation every year. The show will start on Saturday February 8th when from 7pm to 10pm in the Rio di Cannaregio will take place “Venetian water festival”, with decorated boats and floating structures that will officially open the Carnival 2020. In the same location on Sunday February 9th from 10.30 am to 1 pm the water procession “Grand Opening of the 2020 Venice Carnival” will be held with food and wine stands, music and animation.
Saturday February 15th from 2.30 pm to 4 pm will be held “Corteo e Festa delle Marie”, the procession and feast of the Marys: an appointment during which you can admire the costumes of the Venetian tradition and renew the historical tradition, like the homage that the Doge gave each year to 12 beautiful girls of humble origins.
Sunday February 16th from 12am to 1pm you can live one of the symbolic moments of the Venice Carnival: “Il Volo dell’Angelo”, the flight of the angel. Maria, the winner of the 2019 Venice Carnival, will wear the role of the angel. This spectacular show will be preceded by the “Corteo del Doge”, the doge procession.
Qualifications for the “Concorso della Maschera più Bella”, the most beautiful mask competition, will take place from Fat Thursday February 20th to Saturday February 22nd.
As usual, Sunday February 23rd at 12am the “Flight of the Eagle” from the San Marco bell tower to the Carnival stage will again be repeated for the 2020 edition of the Carnival. Afterwards, in Piazza San Marco from 2.30 to 5.30 pm, the final of the “Most Beautiful Mask Competition”, while Monday February 24th the appointment will be dedicated to children.
The big parties for Carnival 2020 end on Shrove Tuesday February 25th with the awarding of the “Maria del Carnevale 2020” between 4 pm and 4.30 pm in Piazza San Marco at the end of the water parade that starts from San Giacomo dell’Orio. At 5 pm the “Svolo del Leon”: the flight of the lion, symbol of the city, painted on a large cloth, will go up on the bell tower and then fly over the public in the square. The twelve Venetian maidens “Marie” welcome it to the stage in Piazza San Marco. A highly suggestive ritual to seal the leave of the Carnival 2020 and a goodbye to the Venice Carnival 2021.
Website: www.carnevale.venezia.it
Location: San Marco Square, Veniceu
Schedule: Saturday February 8th – Tuesday February 25th, 2020
