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Venice Carnival is a series of celebrations held in the city in northeastern Italy. The Carnival in Venice is considered one of the most important events in the Veneto and possibly one ofthe most famous carnivals in the world along with the carnival of Rio de Janeiro. Venice has established itself as the perfect place to fully express thefree, mysterious and fun spirit of carnival.
While it is true that Venice is a magical city at any time of the year, it is even much more special during the carnival season. People come from all over the world to enjoy the shows and atmosphere that the Venice Carnival has to offer. The city is transformed into an incredible stage where the masks, the disguises, the art, the dancing and the show take various forms during the carnivals.
The Venice Carnival is possibly one of themost ancient traditions in all of Italy and in the world. The shows and events that occur in the city are a reflection of the Venetian identity, as they keep certain glamorous elements that have remained in the traditions for centuries. The beautifully decorated masks with mysterious features and ostentatious period costumes are definitely one of the icons of the carnival that have spread all over the world, even influencing other carnival festivities.
The city is filled with events from start to finish and, although some of the events are private, there are plenty offree street events so you can enjoy the essence of the realVenetian carnivals. Every year, Venice welcomes hundreds of thousands of people who come to see the most special, glamorous and mysterious carnival parties in all of Europe and the world.
Il Volo dell’Angelo is one of the main events of the Venice Carnival
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The date of the Venice Carnival changes every year, as it is taken as a reference to Lent, so we can say that the carnival takes place between the month of February and the month of March. Furthermore, because the carnivals in Venice are a large conglomeration of festivals both private and public, the carnivals extend for more than a couple of days.
The Venice Carnival will run from approximately January 30 through February 16.
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While the tradition of carnival has been around in societies around the world for hundreds of years, Europe is the birthplace of the tradition of carnival, so the celebration goes far beyond the form in which we know it. Festivals of this type refer to ancestral cults of transition from winter to spring, which were present in almost all societies, as in the Latin Saturnalia or Dionysia in which the motto was “Once a year it is allowed to have no limits“.
Hundreds of years ago, Carnival was even much longer, starting on the first Sunday of October to intensify the party the day after Epiphany and culminating in the days before Lent. Today Carnival lasts much less, but it does not mean that the celebrations and festivities are less intense, as Carnival never has a rest in Venice..
Venice Carnival is possibly the oldest carnival in the whole world, as the first document recording Carnival festivities in Venice dates back to 1094. This evidence was documented by the dux of Venice, supreme magistrate and maximum leader of the Republic of Venice at the time. This document mentions carnivals as “public entertainment“, a document in which, moreover, mentions the word carnival. However, the document declaring carnival to be a public holiday dates back to 1296 and was issued by the Senate of the Republic.
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The carnival festivities were attributed to the need of the Serene Republic of Venice to grant the population of the humbler social classes a period dedicated entirely for fun and celebrations. The events were predominantly dancing and music events. Moreover, through the anonymity guaranteed by masks and disguises, a sort of leveling of all social divisions was obtained and even the public mockery of the authorities was authorized.
As in much of Europe, the carnival was more or less tolerated at first, since it consisted of a means of escape for tensions and discontent of the population. However, certain restrictions and censorship were also placed due to the moral breakdown and in order to maintain public order. Once the festivity was consolidated, this allowed the venecians to leave aside their occupations to devote themselves completely to entertainment, so stages were built in the main streets.
People flocked to admire the attractions consisting of jugglers, acrobats, animals and musicians. Street vendors sold dried fruits, chestnuts, frítole and sweets of all kinds.
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Carnival was becoming an increasingly strong custom, so the art of creating costumes and masks for trade began to emerge. From 1271, the production of masks, schools and techniques for their realization were properly established. Tools began to be produced for the specific processing of materials such as clay, paper mache, plaster and gasp. After the construction of the masks, they proceeded and placed details such as drawings, embroidery, beads and plumage..
In 1571 an epic chariot parade was held to commemorate the great battle of the Christian forces at Lepanto. In 1664 a masquerade was organized in which many young patricians participated. In addition, a parade crossed Venice and stopped at two of the city’s most famous monasteries: that of San Lorenzo and that of San Zaccaria, where nuns of noble lineage resided.
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Venice had become the city of carnival pleasure and entertainment with the help of games, masks, the glothargy and lust. During these days, no one could resist the temptation of the excessive carnival festivities and there was no force that could stop it. Venice had become a superficial world, festive, decorative, excessive and glamorous. The city had become a meeting place for artists, writers, musicians, adventurers and beautiful ladies from all over the world.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice, the carnival had a major break because it was frowned upon during the temporary occupation of Austrians and French. However, the tradition was kept alive on the islands of Burano and Murano, where they continued to celebrate the carnival. Venice Carnival came back to life in the seventies of the twentieth century, as some citizens and civic associations undertook to defend and maintain the traditions.
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The Carnival today is one of themost well-known and famous events in the city and has the collaboration of thousands of sponsors, media, centers and cultural institutions and incentive ofprivate property. While it is true that the carnivals in Venice with the excesses of the festivities centuries ago, it is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic and famous carnivals in the world, attracting crowds of spectators from all over the world with thousands of masks and costumes to celebrate.
During the weeks of carnival, the streets and districts become a great stage for the proliferation of the arts, the masks, the parades, the carriages and the acrobats that entertain a large audience every year in the city of canals.
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The Carnival is celebrated in Venice, capital of the Veneto region in southern Italy.
The city of Venice has a total area of 414.6 square kilometers where about 261,905 people live.
La Festa Veneziana sull’acqua is the opening party of the carnivals in Venice
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The Carnival in Venice is a huge glamorous celebration that is packed with hundreds of events that happen throughout the week. While it is true that some of the city’s celebrations are exclusive or in private venues, activities are held in theoutdoors so that people can appreciate the in the city. In addition, Venice is transformed into a large stage that allows people to become whatever they wish during the festivities.
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Masks and costumes are one of the habits or customs of carnivals that has been maintained over the centuries. There are certain costumes that have maintained their form the last years, as in the case of the Baùta. The costume is somewhat simple, as it consists of a white mask known as a larva under a black hat and a black cape, this whole outfit is known as Baùta. It was even used outside the carnival period to court someone anonymously. The mask can be worn by both men and women and to acquire some details in ostentatious colors and costumes.
Another typical costume of those times and nowadays is the Gnaga, a simple costume consisting of common women’s clothing and a mask with the appearance of a cat, accompanied by a basket on the arm that usually contained a kitten. The costume could be worn by both men and women.
The medico della peste is also another attractive costume. This costume bears resemblance to the uniform that doctors wore to protect themselves during the outbreak of the plague between 1361 and 1680. The costume consists of a large black coat, protective gloves and a bird-shaped mask with a large, elongated hollow beak.
The Pantalone is related to the commedia dell’arte, as he is one of the characters in the play. His costume is mainly red and features a Greek hat, jacket, long pants or pantyhose and a half mask.
The Moretta is common among women, which consists of a small dark velvet mask, which was worn with a hat and refined clothing and veils.
The Arlecchino is one of the classics and is influenced by the Commedia del’Arte. It is nowadays one of the most used masked costumes. Generally, his costume is colorful and full of diamonds. In addition, it has bells and crystals.
Finally, the Colombina is the female counterpart of the Arlecchino. It is a half mask with a large amount of feathers on top.
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Although the Venice Carnival has some parades, the real heart of the festivities are the various shows that take place in the streets. Some of them feature jugglers, acrobats or dancing in the canals of the city. The city is famous for having great shows such asLa Festa Veneziana and Il Volo dell’Angelo.
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Venice Carnival is known for its great and amazing masked dances and set to the time of yesteryear. Many, if not all, are private balls offering a variety of entertainment and services. The purpose of these balls is to transport people to a remote, yet glamorous era with some modern components. You need to buy or rent a suit to enter the balls. In addition, you also need to buy tickets, which sell out extremely fast.
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If you want to spend your next carnival in the city of Venice, we recommend you to plan your trip in advance, make an itinerary of activities and book the accommodation of your choice in advance. Also, be sure to pack comfortable clothes to fully enjoy your activities.
When visiting the city during carnivals, you will need to know what to wear. If you are going to one of the dances, you will need to follow thedress code they request, which consists mainly of period clothing and the respective mask. For men, a black tie is usually required and for women, a traditional dress or one that resembles period dresses. In addition, you can also wear the traditional costumes that usually accompany the masks.
If you are going to enjoy the festivities, especially in Saint Mark’s Square, then you will need to wear mask. You can make your own mask or buy a ready-made one in many stores throughout the city. You can get some cheap ones at the little stands on every corner of the city. However, in the city center there are several old stores or workshops that produce masks with the ancient art.
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While the city center has the events of greater force and more known, you can also delve into other areas of the city. During carnivals, the various districts, communes and towns of the city hold their own festivals. These places in particular, celebrate their own carnivals with various elements. Some of them possess some parades, while others occupy various theatrical pieces and wonderful spectacle full of magic and attractive costumes.
Carnivals in the various districts, communes and towns of Venice:
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For years, the San Pietro Carnival has included a pleasant lunch, organized by the community. In addition, it also has some parades with floats that are accompanied with dances and choreographies with costumes that are worth seeing. The celebrations in this district usually have some raffle games where you can win big prizes.
The district authority also offers the market “Bondad y Bienestar” with an exhibition of typical food and handicrafts. It also offers some activities for children such as playgrounds with inflatable mattresses and food. The event also has a small photographic art contest and several exhibitions.
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The event features some scopone tournaments and awarding of prizes, as well as some sports activities. For the little ones they offer some activity workshops, balloon games, dance and face painting. Lottery games and concerts live music are not to be missed in the commune of Scorzé.
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The town offers events for all audiences, including parade of allegorical floats and a large dance repertoire.
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The village has been integrating its own carnival festivities, so it has recently integrated some allegorical floats to its repertoire.
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The commune of Caselle de ‘Ruffi also joins the festivities with a small parade of floats.
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The village of San Stino has been participating in the carnivals for several decades now and celebrates it with its respective parade of floats and comparts in costume with masks and costumes.
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The town of Quarto D’Altino celebrates the carnivals with some events for all the public. The village library holds some workshops for the children, while in the square there are some events of live music, pancake race and its respective night parade with masked characters and carrots..
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The municipality performs some theatrical events in the square and live music presentation. In addition, it also offers children a children’s carnival so that they can have fun during the carnival festivities.
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The town of Pianiga celebrates its carnivals withmask competitions, decoration contests, dances and choreography competitions. In addition, it provides prizes to the various winners of the contests and some samples of food and sweets.
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The town of Noventa di Piave offers a rich event for both children and adults. Its festivities feature face painting, jugglers, floats and mask contests. The entire event is accompanied by live music, both from bands and DJs..
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The commune offers a parade with about 15 floats through the various sectors. In addition, some walks and processions take place during the night. The food trucks are also present in the streets offering various options of food and beverages.
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The town holds various events for young and old with music, shows and masks in the squares and streets throughout February. In addition, it holds the traditional parade of allegorical floats with dozens of masks behind each float.
The children’s carnival is a must to brighten up the children’s holidays with music, inflatable mattresses and activities. Typical food, sweets and lottery with great prizes cannot be missing in the carnivals of the town.
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The town possesses two must-see events that you should see during the festivities. The first is a large mask parade that composes various events of entertainment, food and hot spiced wine. The second is a great show Il Giardino del Gigante.
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The town has a parade that goes throughSan Pietro, 1 May, Carneo and will reach Piazza Card. During the evening there are also some night parades. In addition, the whole event features musical performances and DJs. All events are free admission.
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The town holds a lot of events during the carnivals. During the festivities you will see some mask workshops,parties in the squares, puppet show, games in the public squares, carnival parade with schools and school members,dog gala, circus and magic shows, mask contest, allegorical floats, exhibitions, sports activities, face painting, theatrical presentations and food fairs.
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During the carnivals there are parades of floats andmask parades. In addition, some meals and stalls of both sweet and savory dishes are held.
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Carnival begins with this celebration. It is a great event that is composed of an incredible show with great masked and costumed participants sail along the water towards the district of Cannaregio. The a great thematic show full of theatrical pieces and boats all along the canal. During the night the whole event is illuminated with lights, turning it into a marvelous shining spectacle. In addition, you will find music, Venetian street food and incredible costumes.
This event occurs twice throughout the carnival.
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La Festa Delle Marie is a recreation of a traditional Venetian beauty contest where women dress in the best traditional clothes and presented to the Dux. The Festa delle Marie takes place several days, throughout the carnival period and starts at 14:30 in San Pietro di Castello and ends on the stage of San Marco at 16.00.
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During carnivals an official carnival dinner is held in the city of Venice replete with everything you could imagine from a great Italian carnival show. At the event you can find delicious food, musical performances and charming company of residents and tourists. It’s a real sight to behold that will transport you to another era to celebrate the Carnival festivities.
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This is a big event in Saint Mark’s Square. The event is composed of a largecontest of masks and designed costumes that must parade in front of a jury. The jury panel is composed of several famous people. In addition, some prizes are also awarded to the winners.
All the costumes enjoy an impressive theme and the participants are not modest about it. The women wear big pompous dresses full of glitter, while the men wear buffed costumes covered with feathers and glitter.
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It is one of the best known and most popular events of the whole festival. The event dates back to the Serenissima period and always takes place in the clock tower of the Saint Mark’s Basilica. The Flight of the Angel used to consist of a person flying on a rope from the clock tower and then embracing the Dux of Venice. However, nowadays the angel is usually the winner of the Festa delle Marie of the previous year.
The characters participating in the event have usually been sportsmen or people of national renown. The person performing the show starts flying from the clock tower between 11:00 and 12:00. In addition, there is also a tour before or after the event.
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This is another relatively new extravaganza to the Venice Carnival, as it is an alternative to the Flight of the Angel, which has a large audience. The event is more or less similar to Angel Flight, as it features some television or entertainment media personality performing the stunt.
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This event arose as a small parody of the main carnival events such as the Flight of the Angel and the Flight of the Eagle. The purpose of the event is of course to poke fun at these traditional events with a bit of playful spice. The event is conducted in the same manner to that of the main flights.
While the event started out as a spoof, it has gained some popularity and today has established itself as an event of its own that people attend every year.
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This is one of the most important events in the Venice Carnival calendar. It is held at the Palazzo Pisani Moretta. The event begins with appetizers and great performances by costumed artists and acrobats. Afterwards, a grand gala dinner takes place where you can sample the best food that Venice has to offer, all the food is performed in the company of performances and shows.
The event closes with a flourish with performances, classical music and traditional artists of the Commedia dell’arte. Finally, some dances and games are performed.
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This is one of the most recent events of the carnival. The whole event refers to the victory against Patriarch Ulrich of Aquileia and his twelve rebel lords in 1162. For the realization of the event, a bull, twelve loaves of bread and twelve pigs are presented. The bull is a symbol for the Patriarch and the pigs for the lords. Once everyone is gathered in the plaza de San Marcos, the bull is beheaded. The parade starts at 3 PM in San Giacometto and ends in St. Mark’s Square with the beheading of the fake bull.
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The Svolo del Leone is the closing ceremony of the carnival. It is a ceremony in which the young women of the Festa delle Marie participate. During the ceremony a large flag of San Marco is hoisted, featuring red and golden designs. The flag is an element of identity of the city and the whole event is accompanied by several opera musicians.
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This is a party to re-experience the thrills, excesses and practices of past carnival experiences in the elegant setting of a historic Venetian palace. The event features entertainment, Venetian masks, gala dinner and dancing with a DJ until late into the night. Every year it features a different theme, always inspired by the figure of Giacomo Casanova, a traveler, poet, biographer and man of questionable ethics. The name of the event comes from this subject, who was a relentless seducer who managed to inspire several people who today hold various events in his name.
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The Masked Ball of Santa Chiara is a great event that takes place in the ancientChurch of Santa Chiara, today known as the Crystal Cathedral in Murano. This Masked Ball is a unique and exclusive celebration that seeks to transport each of its visitors to a distant, interesting and magic-filled era.
The event includes magical performances, full of romance, fantastic costumes and demonstrations of glassblowing. All these elements are combined with an incrediblemusical setting and the ancient and medieval Church of Santa Chiara that has been adapted to achieve a magical design.
The organization has for you an authentic experience of art and Venetian culture like nowhere else in the city. In addition, you can be part of a great and delicious dinner with various dishes, an open bar with prosecco, beer, soft drinks, appetizers and traditional Carnival sweets.
Il Concorso della Maschera più bella is a mask contest that takes place in the city during carnivals
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As is customary in many areas of Italy and Europe, during carnival festivities certain sweet recipes are made to accompany the festivities. Many of these recipes are usually fried dough or sugar-coated doughnuts that can be accompanied by creams and jams. In addition, you can also find in the various localities hot drinks made with wine, spices and citrus..
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One of the traditional Venetian sweets during the holidays is the Frìtola. The recipe has been present in the city since the 18th century. This dessert is nothing more than a wheat flour doughnut that has been leavened for a few hours and then fried in plenty of oil until golden brown. The final product is a sweet, light and spongy donut that is covered with abundant sugar and eaten hot. The traditional form of the doughnut is without filling; however, some people accompany them with pastry cream or ricotta cream.
The Frìtola is a classic doughnut of the carnival festivities in Venice
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Another of the seasonal sweets is the Crostoli. This dessert is also known as Galani and is sheets of fried dough that are sprinkled with sugar. To make them you need eggs, wheat flour, butter, Italian grappa until you form a dough similar to pasta dough. Then, it is stretched on the counter and cut into triangles or the desired shape. Once the final product is obtained, they are fried in abundant oil and covered with sugar.
The Crostoli are scraps of fried dough covered with sugar that are consumed in Venice during Carnival
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Finally, you can try the Favette, also known as Castagnole. It is one of the classics of Carnival pastry, but which is little known. You can find them in the locals of the city in simple form or stuffed. To make them, a dough is prepared with wheat flour, sugar, lemon peel, butter and aniseed liqueur. Once a uniform dough is obtained, it is left to rest for a couple of hours, the dough is divided and each segment is rolled into a small tube. Then, it is cut into small balls that are placed to fry. The result is small crispy donuts covered with sugar.
In addition, the city of Venice offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafes that you can visit during your stay to expand your gastronomic experience. Some of the most famous places are: La Colombina, Bacaro Quebrado, Riviera, Nevodi and Impronta.
The Favette are small simple carnival donuts performed in the city of Venice
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Once you are in the carnivals, you can visit the different venues within the jurisdiction of Venice to get a taste of how the carnival is experienced in the various areas of the city. When visiting the city you can go the following locations for a unique carnival experience: Stra, Scorzé, Santa Maria di Sala, Caltana, Caselle de ‘Ruffi, San Stino, Quarto D’Altino, Portogruaro, Pianiga, Noventa di Piave, Mira, Jesolo, Fossalta di Piave, Concordia Sagittaria, Chioggia and Campolongo Maggiore.
Within the main events of the carnival, you can attend the different flights, both the main ones, as well as the alternative version and the closing ceremony. These flights are Il Volo dell’Angelo, Il volo dell’Aquila, Volo dell’Asino and Svolo del Leone. In addition, you can attend Ballata delle Maschere con Il Taglio della Testa al Toro where you can watch a classic historical re-enactment through a bull of lies.
You should not miss any of the parts of the Festa Veneziana sull’acqua, as each one features different elements. In addition, it is a must to attend the Festa delle Marie or Marie’s Party, Il Concorso della Maschera più bella and the Themed Dinner and dance at the Palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi.
If you have the resources and the desire to go to a slightly more private and glamorous event you can attend the Mascheranda at Palazzo Pisani Moretta or any of the private masked balls that take place in the various buildings of the city during carnivals.
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In addition, the city of Venice offers you a wealth of tourist attractions to visit during your Carnival vacation.
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It is one of the must-see of the city. It consists of several waterways that you can travel by gondola or boat. On this route you can see a lot of ancient architectural works such as Fondaco dei Turchi, Ca’ d’Oro, Santa Maria della Salute and many other works, buildings and locals of the city on its banks.
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It is one of the most important symbols of all Venice. The building was formerly the site of residence of the doge. The palace was built in 1340 and features grandiose works of art by Vittore Carpaccio, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, Pietro Malombra, Giovanni Bellini, Francesco Bassano, Antonio Rizzo and Andrea Celesti.
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It is the main Catholic temple of the city that was built between 1063 and 1617. The temple is 76 meters long and 62 meters wide. In its facilities you can find a large amount of gold in their finishes, granite blocks as tables, sculptures and images of great religious importance.
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The city of Venice is completely safe, so you can wander its streets both day and night. Your only concern would be pickpockets and possible tourist scams. Be sure to keep your belongings in a safe place, pay attention to your surroundings and do not get carried away by the charms of a stranger you meet on the streets.
If you decide to take a ride with the gondolas, be sure to watch your step so you don’t fall into the water. Also, we recommend the following products to store your belongings safely:
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During the Carnival festivities, the city of Venice is particularly cold, with temperatures ranging from 1 to 9 degrees Celsius. We recommend packing a few warm pieces of clothing; also, if possible wear several shirts or clothing items at once so that you can counteract the city’s chill.
If you wear a costume, be sure to wear a coat underneath.
The Venice Carnival is a masquerade and costume show in the city during the month of February
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The closest airport to the city of Venice is Marco Polo International Airport, which receives a good number of flights from all over the world. Once you are here, you can make use of the various means of transportation to reach the city center.
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From the airport you can take Alilaguna Lines to the Terminal Crociere. The journey takes 30 minutes and the price of the trip is 10 US dollars. Every 20 minutes there is a ferry to the city.
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The city of Venice has a central station that connects it to several cities in the country. You can arrive from Milan, Rome or even Florence.
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From the airport you can take a bus on the ATVO S.p.A or BusItalia Veneto lines to the city center. The ride is 15 minutes and the fare is between 2 and 16 US dollars.
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From the airport take the SS14 and Strada Regionale 11. The journey takes 42 minutes.
If you decide to take a cab, the taxi fare ranges between 45 and 60 US dollars.
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4-star hotel 400 meters from the city center. Rooms feature parquet floors, air conditioning and private bathrooms with basic toiletries. The hotel has a spa, restaurant, bar and free Wi-Fi.
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3-star hotel 1.6 km from the city center. Rooms have private bathrooms with basic toiletries, satellite TV and minibar. The hotel has room service, bar, lounge and free wifi.
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