For nearly a thousand years, this Carnival, is among the most beautiful and complete in the world, even the first signs date back to the ancestral cult that marked the transition from winter to spring.
Over the centuries, this event has become increasingly international and popular even if every year, the issues change, it remains by far the world’s finest.
Currently, the Carnival of Venice, was during approximately ten days, but the enthusiasm of the Venetian is already started long before, so that, until a few years ago many people Venetian suspend their job to devote themselves fully to the preparations of the festival and attend many performances by acrobats and tumblers that animated the event.
The masks are protagonists of this event, their tradition is so old that when you wear them, have the feeling of being catapulted into a big thick illusion of magic.
Walking on the Venetian street , you can admire the Bauta, the classic mask consisting of a black coat, or white mask that is placed in the face, called Larva. Women used to wear a more feminine version, called Moretta.
Always, these masks are the symbol of transgression, as were used in the past by noblewomen, nuns and prostitutions that wore to hide their identities and fall into forbidden games that often cost them harsh punishments.
Each year, the Venetian Carnival, presents different themes; until the’70s, it was mainly the meeting of different cultures and the concept of travel, and in the 80s, it was the turn of successful twinning with Naples and Paris.
In recent years, we have seen an especially dedicated to Carnival prominent personalities as Fellini and Casanova, or oriental themes.
The Carnival 2008, began on January 25, at the Hotel Baglioni, where there was an opening ceremony, followed by a delicious dinner and the live concert.
This year has given considerable prominence to the multicultural of the event, which saw the participation of many Romanian artists who cheered with songs, dances and folk rhythms to the “Padiglione Italia della Biennale“.
The aim has been to represent and create a learning component, which mixed to the carnival has given this event a global flavour.
As usual, there have been the classic appointments like “la Sfilata delle Maschere, il Volo dell’Angelo, il Corteo Storico and la Festa delle Marie, ” and the symbol of this year, was “il Sensation Show”, an event with music and performances. Also, could saw”i Percorsi Gastronomici Carnevaleschi” or Il Carnevale al Buio.

There were many private events from the chamber concerts in costume, till the gondola dinner with the follow-up to real masked balls.
Of great interest was “il Ballo Medievale Trovatori e Menestrelli” where a group of instrumentalists in old costumes, performed Renaissance music with ancient instruments like the harpsichord, lute, etc.
Filled with magic and light, “il Ballo de Re Sole”, a fanciful dance eighteenth, where firepower launchers and musicians have livened the evening with performances rich in intrigue.
Certainly, the most awaited event was to Sunday, February 3th “la Domenica degli Innamorati,” an event held in Palazzo Zanardi entirely lit with candles.
This magical carnival was closed on February 5th, with several dances, and this gala closing gave the appointment 2009 for another magnificent ten days of secular tradition.