Arrivederci Carnevale . . .
. . . Ciao Spring sunshine.
And so it’s over for another year. The confetti and ‘silly string’ that cover every calle, campo and ponte, will now slowly dissolve or be swept up and cleaned away.
The Christmas lights are coming down, the ice rink in Campo San Polo and the fairground in Castello are going to bed until next year, and Venice life will say Arrivederci to masks and ballgowns until February 2025.
As you know already, I don’t love the outlandish theatrical costumes, masks and parading all over town, and I tend to keep away from the crowds and the slightly garish, ostentatious flamboyance of Carnevale. It just doesn’t sit well with me, though I love how much other people enjoy it!
I much prefer the quiet, little scenes: of children watching street theatres, the glimpse of a brocade jacket, a bejewelled wrist, the heel of a shoe or a stream of party ribbons blowing across a campo.
That’s much more my vibe. Not the faces or ‘show’ - which is undoubtedly spectacular.
I’ve especially loved the street theatre this year; from tiny wooden stages set up here and there in Campi, to the main stage in San Marco, the age-old traditions of story-telling, music, dance and audience participation bring children of all ages and nationalities together, to laugh, take part, and learn. There was such innocent joy in the play of it all, with kids coming up on stage, and treated with such kindness, care and love.
San Marco itself was busy most days and evenings, with concerts and shows, ballet, cabaret, Chinese dragons and acrobats. We had such a lovely time just dipping in and out as we walked by. For me, this is the best way to ‘do’ Carnevale: little bits at a time as part of the wider, daily life here. And if you can enjoy some free theatre on a stage like THIS, on your way home, then I’d say it’s not too bad at all!
The weather was a fairly typical February combination of beautiful and foggy as hell, and we went from unexpected near sunburn while having a our typical wandering lunch of bread and tomatoes on a bench in San Polo on one day, to not being able to see across a narrow canal for the thickness of the fog, the next. But such is the magic of Venice! And at night the fog is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
Want to write a story? Here’s your cue :)
I have LOTS more photos to share, as is always the way, and I’ll be putting some more here in the coming days, plus many more, and videos and audio recordings in the paid subscriber posts, and below the line here.
You can upgrade any time, and don’t forget that you get a big discount on my writing retreats that way too.
Both my Venice and Oxford retreats have guests coming in, with people kindly also passing the into on to their friends, who have booked too. Thank you!
All details for Oxford 1-day retreats are HERE, and for Venice are HERE.
Below the paywall line is a beautiful video from Rialto with the most incredible light you’ll ever see there, but I leave you now with some beautiful watery, light-filled scenes from Venezia.
I hope to see you here one day soon! xx
