Scenic route
Grand Canal
Venice, Italy
Venice's main waterway, lined with palaces, best seen from a public water bus.
Festival or event · Italy · Veneto
Venice Carnival
The pre-Lent festival where Venetians wear elaborate masks and costumes.
about 4 h
For storytellers
Why Venice Carnival matters
Each winter, in the weeks before Lent, Venice fills with masks and costumes. Masked parties, parades and events fill the squares and palaces. It's a revived tradition with centuries of history, and it's wonderfully photogenic if you can handle the crowds.
Talking points
- Held for about two weeks before Lent.
- Costumes and masks are central to it.
- Many events take place in St Mark's Square.
- Book accommodation far in advance.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
More in Venice
Church, mosque or temple
St Mark's Basilica
Venice, Italy
Venice's glittering Byzantine-style cathedral covered in golden mosaics.
Palace
Doge's Palace
Venice, Italy
The Gothic palace of the Venetian rulers, with grand halls and a prison across a bridge.
Bridge
Bridge of Sighs
Venice, Italy
A small covered bridge linking the Doge's Palace to the old prison.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.