Venice, ready to celebrate Carnival 2023, gets to the heart of the festivities on Sunday 5 February.
Following the traditional opening parade held on Saturday, Sunday marked the real opening of the Carnival. A hundred traditional Venetian boats, decorated and colored for the occasion, took part in transporting the iconic papier-mâché “Pantegana” through the waters of the Grand Canal, the true queen of the Venetian Carnival, which opened before the eyes of million spectators right under the Rialto Bridge.
The parade saw the participation of over 100 boats with more than 800 rowers in costume on board (part of the Coordination of the Rowing Associations of Voga alla Veneta).
The typical Venetian songs followed one another accompanying the rowers for the entire duration of the event which ended in Erbaria with the awarding of the 4 most unique and decorated boats.
However, the events on Sunday 5 February only sanction the beginning of the Carenvale di Venezia 2023 which, thanks to the artistic direction of the set designer Massimo Cecchetto, will see a succession of unique events such as the Festa delle Marie and the election of the most beautiful mask!
The main events to be held will be:
- February 11: the inauguration of the catwalk dedicated to the masks that will parade and participate in the Most Beautiful Mask Competition;
- 16 February: the parade of allegorical floats in Pellestrina;
- 17 February: the parade of allegorical floats on the Venice Lido;
- February 21: the election of the Maria del Carnevale 2023.
In addition to the celebrations, the Carnival in Venice is characterized by unique sweets of the Venetian tradition: fritters, galani and castagnole which can be tasted throughout Venice.
