Venetian Carnevale 2018, by luxury car with driver
Carne, vale!
Carnevale (Carnival) is a very important event throughout the countries of Christian faith and in the collective consciousness represents a tumultuous defiance of the social order of the past and present, complete with satirical customs and historical dress, mischievous activities, and unfettered fun.
Carnevale embodies, apart from the religious significance, the end of a vital cycle, a quiet rebellion against authority, and a frozen moment in time in the epoch of barons and lords which is reflected in the icy ambiance of the winter.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Lent period is observed during this period and lends a sense of discipline and humbleness to the Christian followers, who, at the end of Carnevale, renounce to at least one earthly desire for the forty days leading up Easter. Carnevale, in fact, derives from the Latin “carnem” which means to the beginning of abstention from worldly desires and pleasures, contrary to popular belief. Another theory involves the separation of the word Carnevale into “Carne” and “Vale,” meaning “Farewell Flesh,” in light of the upcoming personal sacrifices made during Lent.
Today the religious and historical significance of Carnevale is mostly lost, as well as many of its historical values.
Its folkloristic and traditional aspects remain intact and strong, however, and the sumptuousness of the rituals and events, which have actually taken on a new-pre-Christian significance considered to be relics of ancestral customs, shape the culture, both historically and presently. Contemporary counterparts of the Venetian Carnevale are found throughout the world in places like Rio de Janeiro, Tenerife, and New Orleans, to name only a few of the many diverse carnival festivals which have dramatically shaped the native culture.
The Venetian Carnevale
That being said, there is no place in the world in which Carnevale is as elegant and exclusive as it is in Venice.
The ancient tradition of the Venetian Carnevale came about during the first millennium, evidence for which is found in a document from the dodge Vitale Falier from 1094, who writes of his marvelous fun in the period directly before Lent, such that, in the epoch of the Peaceful Republic of Venice, an official proclamation was finally issued in 1296 declaring the last day of Lent a mandated holiday.
Therefore, for almost a millennium, Carnevale has embodied the spirit of Venice. In the early history of Carnevale, the latter was a time for Venetians to temporarily abandon their daily activities to dedicate themselves to preparing for the customs and rituals. Make-shift stages were constructed that allowed acrobats, jesters, and jugglers to perform.
Music, Dance, and Markets
In every nook and cranny of the city, merchants sold their goods, orchestras rang out through the streets, and citizens danced through the night. Everything was for the public’s enjoyment and the merchants would sing to passersby of the marvels of the far-away lands they had visited and from which came the various treasures, foods, and fabrics they boasted. During the epoch of the Peaceful Republic (Serenissima Republica), the legendary travels to the Orient contributed a great deal to the narration of the stories and to exotic myths, reinforced by accounts such as the famous Milione, written by explorer Marco Polo of his travels in the Far East.
Even in the following centuries, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the tradition of Carnevale remained distinct from those of the rest of the world, especially during the 17th century, the century in which Venice would become the hotspot of the picturesque and whimsical destination we know today.
Venice, however, still rests largely unbeatable in terms of art, history, elegance, and luxury.
Carnevale during the 18th century
During the 18th century, Venice was firmly placed as the romantic capital of Europe and the influx of international artists knew no end, aided in fact by the “Grand Tour,” a long travel of months or even years whereby young aristocrats would travel Europe to deepen their political, artistic, and cultural knowledge, a trend very much in vogue in that period.
The Venetian flair for incarnating the world of luxury, of the extreme, of seduction, and of the worldly pleasures is still well alive and renowned today in the collective consciousness of citizens throughout the world. In terms of vices, Las Vegas may be the only possible contender (though on an entirely different scale) to Venice.
Venice, however, still rests largely unbeatable in terms of art, history, elegance, and luxury.
The Venetian Carnevale of the 19TH Century (with several periods of decline)
During the 19th century, the tradition of Carnevale experienced moments of decline to then find new vigor when the Venetian citizens, during the 70s gave rise to a new birth of Carnevale with the support of institutions and of the historical Teatro La Fenice.
The importance of the event is alive and well today with is grand events, traditions, and typical, vibrant costumes and intriguing and artfully crafted masks.
Among the Venetian rituals to open Carnevale: the historical festival on the water at Rio di Cannoregio with a certain type of runway of masks on gondolas, the party delle Marie and the voting for the most beautiful masks of Carnevale. The final act is the flight of the angle in which the winning Maria of the previous Carnevale flies high above the crowd in San Marco Square.
The Doge Masquarade Ball
Let the party begin!
The private parties in the Venetian palaces are marvelous spectacles, and among these, the most noted for its elegance and creativity is the Doge Ball in the Pisani Moretta Palace.
The Doge Ball is a masquarade party which revisits the historical roots of the Venetian aristocracy through rich decoration, performances, and sumptuous costumes.
An overload of emotions in pure Carnevale style awaits, this year sponsored by Rebirth & Celebration.
Vip Limousine, NCC Milano, Accompanies you to the Venetian Carnevale
The 2018 edition of the Venetian Carnevale will take place on the 10th of February and Vip Limousine NCC Milano is happy to accompany you on your marvelous journey by luxury car with driver to one of the most exclusive events on the international scene.
Our offices, with headquarters in Milano are open 24/7 and 365 days a year, plan and organize Carnevale tours, including special stops upon request, exclusive restaurants, and luxury hotels. Our itineraries are tailored to each client and nothing will be left to chance: we believe details make the different, which is why we happily invite you to visit our link to the contact page to begin planning your journey.
