Venetian masks, Carnival in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

History of the Carnival

The Carnival attracted thousands of people to the city during the carnival hey day.  The streets were full of people wearing masks and people could not distinguish between the commoners and the nobility.  In the squares there would be street artists and singers.  People wanted to party in Venice and came from all over Europe.  There were theaters, cafes, restaurants, gambling dens, brothels where the visitors could spend their money.

Events

There is a lot of entertainment during Carnival, there are food stalls and costumed characters, theatre shows, gondola and boat parades along the Grand Canal.  The main events take place around the St Mark’s Square such as the Mask parades but each Sestiere will also have their own celebrations.  There is also a Carnival for children in the Cannargio district.  The last day of Carnival there is a fireworks display in St Marks Square, but you do not have to be there to see it, you can view the fireworks from anywhere in Venice.

Accommodation

If you are thinking of heading over to Venice during the carnival, do so, just book your flights and accommodation well in advance.  Be expected to pay more for your accommodation, as hotels will be charging a higher rate.  You could also check out the cost of renting one of the apartments in Venice, it may work out cheaper if there is a large group of you going.

Masks

Masks have played an important part in the Venice carnival.  People were allowed to wear the masks between St Stephen’s day and the start of the carnival season (Shrove Tuesday). There is a new theme each year for Carnival but everyone will be wearing a mask. There are many different types, there is the bauta mask that covers the whole face, the Columbina, a half mask normally decorated with silver, gold, crystals and feathers, the Plague Doctor mask which has a long beak and is one of the most recognisable Venetian masks.

More than 30,000 people visit Venice each day during Carnival, making it one of the busiest times of the year for the city.  If you are thinking about going, it is well worth booking one of the short-term rental Venice apartments 6 to 8 months in advance. The celebrations start 40 days before Easter and last for 2 weeks.

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Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia by Giovanni Dall’Orto

Soon after the completion of the main road, which connected the town to Altinum, Aquileia would grow to become a powerful and wealth commercial center. At the peak of its time, the town of Aquileia was home to more than 200,000 Romans. The city was known for its glassmakers.

In 452, the town was attacked by Attila the Hun and set ablaze. Many of the glassmakers who had helped make the town prosperous, relocated to the area surrounding the Venetian Lagoon. It is here at the lagoon that some of the most famous glass shops min the entire empire rose.

Archaeological Area, Aquileia, Italy by Zumzum

The town of Aquileia today is a park which is opened to the general public. Many of the ruins in Aquileia such as the forum, necropolis and harbor can be visited by year round by the general public. Many people also take the time to wander through the two neighborhoods in Aquileia that have been recently opened to the public as well. There are two different museums in Aquileia that house the many artifacts that have been uncovered over the years in the archeological dig sites located throughout Aquileia.

It is important to note that the original Roman basilica which had been built back in the 3rd century was destroyed during the attacks of Attila the Hun. The present day basilica was built on the ruins of the originally by order of the House of Savoy back in 1031.

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