Venice Carnival

The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is a historic festival that transforms the city into a lavish, open-air masked ball before the start of Lent. It is internationally renowned for the wearing of elaborate, historical costumes and the iconic Venetian masks that symbolize anonymity and freedom. The most famous attractions include the dramatic Flight of the Angel (Volo dell’Angelo), where a celebrity glides on a wire from the Campanile over St. Mark’s Square, the stunning Feast of the Maries (a historical procession), and the extravagant Masquerade Balls held in historic Venetian palaces.