The Venice's Carnival

The Carnival of Venice is the most popular and ancient one of the world. Its origins are traced back to the 15^th Century when the Serenissima Republic of Venice established that it was not allowed to dress masks around the city during the night. In the XVIII century, the congregation of masked people along with the numerous cafés, extravagant restaurants, queer theatres where attractive performances were played, became one the most gorgeous event in all Europe. Many famous and important people, such as politics, princes, rich heirs, nobles, came to enjoy this queer and eccentric occasion while squandering inestimable fortunes.
The city was full of people dressed with the “bautta” the characteristic costume made of a simple cloak with a long-nosed mask. Everyone wore masks, it was also used, for couples, to wear allegorical characters, independently from their social status. Masks permitted people to go around the city incognito and enjoy life with its excess with any division of class. All the “campi” offered performances of any kind: people singing and playing instruments, dancing and playing games.

The Carnival in our days 

Nowadays Carnival, even with some different aspects, has maintains its principles: to wear costumes that make people feel diverse from usually. Every year there is a main subject that is the thread of all performances of manifestations arranged by the Municipality. Apart form that, everywhere street-artists entertain with music, curious and original performances the guests of the Carnival.