by InTrieste
Venice is gearing up for a spectacular two-week carnival extravaganza in 2024. Running from January 27 to February 13, the city will play host to 18 days of Carnevale, featuring a myriad of events set against the picturesque backdrop of its canals, bridges, and squares.
This year’s Carnevale, themed ‘Ad Oriente,’ pays homage to the Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo, commemorating the 700th anniversary of his death. Organizers promise an exploration of “themes of travel, discovery, and encounters with worlds previously only imagined,” with a special focus on Polo’s 13th-century journey through Asia along the Silk Road.
Costumed revelers can anticipate a vibrant array of festivities, including water parades, allegorical floats, masked balls, and night parades. The official kick-off will be marked by a breathtaking procession along the Grand Canal on January 28.
A highlight on the Carnevale calendar, the Festa delle Marie pageant, is set for February 3. The sumptuous parade, starting from Piero di Castello, will culminate in St Mark’s Square, where the crowning of the most beautiful of the 12 “Marias” will take place on February 13.
The roots of the Carnevale di Venezia trace back to the 14th century, and possibly even earlier, with intermittent bans imposed by various rulers over the centuries. However, the modern incarnation of the Venice Carnival has been a steadfast tradition for the past century.
Each year, the carnival concludes on the day preceding Ash Wednesday, marking the commencement of Lent—a period traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence leading up to Easter. For a detailed schedule of the 2024 Venice Carnival events, interested attendees can visit the official Carnevale di Venezia website.
