The Carnival in Venice is one of of the most beautiful carnivals not only in Italy, but in the whole world.
I have been to Venice during the Carnival more than once and I have a few pictures and information about it that I would like to share with you.
You can see the whole program at the official website, carnevale.venezia.it. Â
The fame of the carnival comes mainly from the beautiful masks and costumes that wander around the calli and campi during this time of the year.Â
We usually link masks and costumes to carnival (and Halloween), a time of parties and change, we dress up to be somebody else for a few hours.
But in Venice it hasn’t always been this way…
History of Carnival in Venice
Carnival has very old origins, it probably derives from the Saturnali in Ancient Rome, a time at the end of the month of December when civil rules were temporarly suspended.
It was time of banquets and subversion of the social order: for a few days slaves were free and a princeps was elected and dressed with a mask and bright colors.
A few centuries later, when Venice was administered by the Serenissima Republic, wearing masks and costumes was popular and an ordinary affair.
At the time masks were used to hide one’s identity during illegal meetings or activities.
For instance, the mask was used to go to casino or brothels.
Hidden under the tabarro (a mantel) were often carried arms.
For this reason in 1269 the use of masks and costumes was legally forbidden, allowed only during Carnival.
Bauta (the cocked hat with a mask that was open at the bottom and permitted to eat and talk) and tabarro could be worn at official parties and on national holidays.
In the meantime the Carnival (that lasted from Christmas to Mardi Gras) and Venetian masks became more and more important, and in 1436 was established the statute of mascherari, the artisans that create the masks.
Carnival continued to be a time of transgression, where you could do anything, with the anonymity given by the mask.
In 1776 married women were forced to wear bauta and tabarro to go to the theatre.
In 1700, when Carnival was at its highest, new costumes became popular, those coming from the Commedia dell’arte theatre pieces, and they continue to be among the most popular: Pulcinella, Colombina, Arlecchino, Pantalone.Â
From 1797, with the end of the Republic of Venice and the invasion of Napoleon first and the Austrian Empire later, the Carnival was suspended and prohibited. Masks could only be worn at private parties.
Carnival was organised again only recently, in 1979.
The carnival today
Nowadays curious and enthusiastic from all over the world come to Venice not only to see the beautiful costumes, but also to wear them.
It is possible to buy or rent a costume in the few ateliers that can still be found in Venice.
Some of the costumes you can see in Venice during the Carnival are traditional, with the white mask and the rich headgear.
Others are inspired by movie characters or exotic cultures.
Carnival is one of my favorite times to visit Venice; during about two weeks you can see costumes on gondolas, prizes are given to the best masks and all type of events are organized.
And don’t forget the frittella, an equally important protagonist of the Carnival in Venice.
Venice during the Carnival is particularly busy and sometimes it’s difficult to move around, but I think it deserves a visit at least once in a lifetime.
The first part of the shooting took place at the bride and groom’s house, where they were getting ready for their Big Day, surrounded by family and friends.Â
The bride was helped by her mother and sister while she was getting dressed.
Because it was Covid time, the celebration took place at the public park near the Town Hall.Â
It was a nice end-of-Summer warm day, and the location was stunning.Â
After the celebration we took some group photos and some of the newly weds, at the same parco Pretto.
The party then moved to Locanda Perinella, where the newlyweds entertained their guests with dancing, singing and fireworks.Â
It was a simple yet elegant wedding, happy and joyful.
I hope my pictures will help the couple keep a nice and vivid memory of their special day.
 I love the beach. The sand between the fingers and the sound of the waves just relax me.
The beach also has a nostalgic feeling to me. When I was little, we only took pictures at birthdays or while on holiday, and that is why most of the pictures I have of my younger self are at the beach.Â
There’s little to say, the beach and the sea are very seductive, in every season.Â
For this reason I like to shoot at the beach when I can.
Our children grow up so quickly, don’t let time fly by without creating photography memories.Â
If you are interested in a shooting with your family at the beach near Venice, contact me at: tiakatty@gmail.com or 338 7732357
The Camminata per la Vita (Walk for life) in Restena, Arzignano, is?one of those walks that are organized around Italy all year round, but mainly in Spring, when it is not too cold nor too hot, and nature is blooming, the perfect conditions for this type of activities.
camminata per la vita restena
In 2020 and 2021 the walk was suspended due to CoronaVirus. In 2022 it’s finally back. It’s a walk among cherry blossoms, old unbalanced houses, amazing wild flowers and ancient villas up for sale.
Usually at these walks there are paths of different lengths; here in Restena you can choose to walk 4, 6, 12 or 17 kilometers. Along the way there are some “ristori“, refreshment areas, where you can eat and drink something.
un ristoro
I really enjoy these walks because they take you to discover your own region; for example, I had never been before on these hills at just 10 km from home. And the view from there was breathtaking. Plus, you get to walk with dogs that are so happy that they run like crazy and children that proudly walk their first 6 km on a row. The event was a true mood-enhancing. At the end of the 18 km I could actually barely walk, but I was very happy.
This event is particularly important because it is also organized to raise funds for the research on Cystic Fibrosis or Rare Illnesses (depending on the year, it changes).
At the end of the day this dog must have run 4 times the distance
These walks are a mix of nature, food and socializing; they are a great way to meet new and old friends, spend some time in the nature and discover the territory.
Landscape and a farmer working: there’s no Sundays for them.
One of the next walks of this type in the same area is in San Zeno.
There’s this restaurant in Pokhara, favorite stop for the backpackers that cross this town, it’s the Laughing Buddha. Pokhara Lakeside is very touristic and westerner, as I’ve said before, a street full of restaurants that offer food from all over the world, from Lasagne (even if sometimes it is misspelled “lasange” or in thousands of other ways) to steak with chips. And everything at Western prices. So not very convenientfor those who are traveling for months around Asia (and I’m not talking about me, I’m one of those who are traveling less among the people I’ve met).
(A tiny ant keeps walking around the border of the glass with my masala tea – that I’m starting to love – and I can’t get it, she’s too small and quick).
Among this long line of Western restaurants there are some exceptions. One of these is the Laughing Buddha. It’s a small restaurant with 5 tables, family-run. The young girl, 15 years old, that speaks a great English, in the evening works unti 11pm, does her homework in quiet times, at 6 am gets up to serve breakfast and at 9.30 combs her hair in braids, puts on the red ribbon and goes to school (girls have to wear a red ribbon in their hair when they go to school, it’s part of the uniform apparently; and no bracelets). When she finishes school at 4pm she’s back to help her parents.
Well, this place is amazing not only because the owners are very kind, but also food is delicious and very cheap. I love to have breakfast here. This morning I had a “heavy breakfast”, with porridge (that before I moved to London I didn’t know what it was, now I love it), two slices of toasted bread, butter and jam, two eggs (boiled, fried or in omelet, as you prefer), baked potatoes with sweet peppers and onion, tea or coffee. All this at only 95 euro cents. 70 cents for the “simple” breakfast, without porridge. Every morning I’m happy to get out of bed because I know I’m having breakfast there.
Sometimes we go there for dinner too, and last night the mom was a bit sad because they haven’t had many customers in the last days. I’m sorry for them, because at that price and that quality, they should always be full. – A little girl just started typing on my laptop. With her yellow pyjama, red flip flops 3cm long and two silver rings around the ankles (she must be around 2 years old). So yes. I feel like I should eat there breakfast, lunch and dinner. And food is so good that I could actually eat every two hours. But I know that my mom wouldn’t agree, so I try not to do it.
There are other restaurants equally pretty, but I grew fond of this family, so when I can I come here (when the Dutch guy introduced us to this place I wondered why he was eating at the same place all the time, with all the options available. Now I know).
Unfortunately tonight all 5 tables were full, so with a Finnish girl met at the Annapurna Base Camp (Hilde was in bed with a stomach ache) we went to another place. By the lake. I was there yesterday with Hilde. Very nice place. With plastic tables facing the lake. It made me wish I had a house by the water. Not on the Adriatic Riviera, it’s too flat. Somewhere with rocks and big waves. I wonder if there’s a place like this in Italy or if I should move to Cornwall?
Anyway. My point is that I don’t understand how it is possible that the Western restaurants that are very expesive (well, they cost like in Europe) are always so busy, while local restaurants with very low prices struggle to work. Maybe the Laughing Buddha lady was exagerating, but it’s true that this is high season here, and they don’t have so many clients, only between 7 and 8 pm they are completely full. But with people paying 1-1.30 euro for dinner… I don’t know. Probably they would close if things weren’t going well. But which other working opportunities do they have here? I don’t know. I do my best to help them, I try to eat and spend as much as I can (just to help the local economy, like Pietro taught me).
Tomorrow at 1.30 pm there’s our bus (14 hours) to Bardia, a National Park. Will we be able to see a tiger? Exciting. And tomorrow Lee arrives in Pokhara. It’s a shame I won’t be able to see him.
I wonder if the small ant is gone away or if she has drowned in the tea that I’ve drunk…
