Ciao, Marco grazie for letting me rent your family home. From here I had the opportunity to explore many of the surrounding areas in Italy and Germany.
The Venice Carnival 2012
February 4-21
During the ten days of Carnival leading up to Mardi Gras, Venice is a hive of activity and entertainment, from improvised street entertainment to performances put on by the organisers. The heart of Carnival is Saint Mark's Square, with its huge stage, although other events take place throughout the city, helping to avoid an excessive build-up of people in pedestrianised Venice.
A central idea is chosen each year that is taken from various cultural or show-biz themes. It's the theater the big protagonist of the 2012 edition of the Venice Carnival, whose title is "Life is theatre! It's time to get masked".
A ONE TIME MUST DO "VENICE CARNIVAL" IS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS AS THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IT CAN BE ENJOYED!
If you don't have your mask there is no need to worry as there are many shops in the area that will help you in purchasing one.
From one of the many street vendors!
Also there are many shops that will sell you a complete carnival custom!
The Carnival in Venice, from the XVI century to the end of the Venetian Republic, coincided with the peak of the theater season, with many performances not only in the theatres but also in some squares. The main stage will be in Piazza San Marco, where the "Gran Teatro" (Great Theatre) will be set up: a spectacular scenic structure that reproduces the big theatrical machines of the past, and that will be the set of some of the main events, like The Flight of the Angel, the Parade of the Marias and the Parade for the best masked costume contest.
Visit the official website of the Venice Carnival 2012
Read general information about the Venice Carnival
If you are unable to visit Venice around the time of carnival it will still be a great experience. Even after living in Italy for years I loved to just sit outside of the restaurant in Piazza San Marco and just watch the people from all over the world enjoy the sites and of course as everyone has seen the feeding of the pigeons!
St Marks square is the heart of Venice and the first stop for most first-time visitors to the city of Venice as it is home to many major monuments. Piazza San Marco is a fascinating place day or night, and leaves visitors spell-bound by its beauty and elegance. St Mark's square was described by Napolean as the most beautiful dining room in Europe. It is the only true square of Venice. Dominated by it's Byzantine Basilica of St. Marks that's a unique architectural masterpiece that is some 175,5 metres wide whose form closes one side of St. Marks Square. For further information on St. Marks Basilica.
Facing St. Marks Basilica with your back to Piazza San Marco, to the right is an opening to sea and the bay of San Marco which in the old days was the main entrance to the city as visitors in those days arrived by sea. Two giant columns form a mock entrance gate to the city one crowned the ever-present winged Venetian Lion the symbol of the Venetian Republic, the other St. Theodore. In previous the Dolo, as this are is known was were public executions took place. On two-sides of Piazza San Marco, facing each other are cafes where you can sit in the splendor of the most beautiful drawing room in the world. In the evenings, each cafe boast orchestras that entertain their clientele and passer-bys. Their is quite a competition between the orchestras as they challenge each other for the attention of the tourists.
WEATHER YOU ARE SITTING ENJOYING A GREAT ITALIAN MEAL WITH A LITTLE VINO, SHOPPING OR MAYBE TAKING A GONDOLA RIDE TO ENJOY THE SURROUNDINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE!
EACH AND EVER TIME WE WOULD VISIT VENICE WE WOULD HAVE A GREAT TIME AND I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL TO. WELL UNTIL NEXT TIME "PEACE."