Visitors flock to Venice without exception all the year
round as we know, to admire and embrace the beauty and awe
of the city. Many more come to Venice specifically to acknowledge
and spectate at the city’s many cultural events and
amazing calendar of festivals and carnivals.
Many people may immediately think of the Venice International
Film Festival, and rightly so, as this celebrated
and influential scene in August/September draws huge crowds
as the stars come out to Lido island in the hope of drawing
favourable reviews and possibly winning a coveted award.
However, certainly for the people of Venice themselves,
the historic and colourful Carnevale
takes centre stage on the calendar. This ancient, but more
recently, revived spectacular usually takes place in February
and is a celebration of music, masks and costumes as revellers
from all over party in the week leading up to Lent.
With its unique lagoon surroundings, it may come as no
surprise to find water-based celebrations and functions
are a focal point of Venice in events calendar with no fewer
than 120 regattas each year. The Regata Storica
(Historical Regatta) is traditionally on the first Sunday
of September and is always much anticipated by the locals
as this marvellous and visually stunning spectacle sees
period costumes and boats from the 16th century parade and
compete.
Did you Know?!?
Venice’ famous annual carnival (‘Carnevale’)
was originally a celebration with almost anything used as
an excuse to have one. It was also seen as a chance for
the natives to let their hair down and relax from the authoritarian
government of the times. The carnival lasts a week these
days but long ago used to run from Boxing Day to Ash Wednesday.