Venecian Carnival Tour

Venecian Carnival Tour

A passing glance. Fleeting. Seductive. Faces hidden behind beautiful multicolored masks. The ability to observe without being seen. Suggestive, but friendly. Flirting with a veiled identity. The Venice Carnival has its own set of social codes that make this celebration on the banks of the legendary canals one of the most popular in the world. But what is the exact origin of this festival that is celebrated each year just before Lent? Join us for a walking tour starting in Campo San Giovanni e Paolo square to learn about its exciting history.

During our unique guided tour of Venice, we'll visit the sestieri of Castello and San Marco. Walking through these neighborhoods, we'll be transported back in time to the Middle Ages. Back to a time when this festival of pagan origin was created and then evolved until, in the 13th century, the nobility began to dress up in costume to mingle with commoners. As we meander through the narrow streets along the canals, we'll discuss the most significant events that led to the immense popularity of the celebration up to this day.

In the 18th century, the Venice Carnival reached its height of grandeur. We'll observe different shop windows and Venetian mask stalls to learn more about the history and the eighteenth-century aristocrats who decided to dress up so that they could enjoy the celebrations without anyone knowing what their real identity was. Among these nobles, one stood out above all others. Diplomat, philosopher, cellist, and, above all, seducer (he had some 130 love affairs), the libertine Giacomo Casanova certainly made the best of the carnival.

After revealing some anecdotes and secrets about Casanova and other famous characters, we'll end the tour with a tasting of a typical sweet treat of the Venice Carnival of or a cicchetti, a typical tapa at one of Venetians' favorite Baccari.