A couple dressed as matching red butterflies with strings of lights inside the wings and feathered headdresses. Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy.

Venice, always magical but especially during Carnevale

Days of splendor, dance, and folly

Unassumingly, I arrived at Venice Marco Polo Airport on a Friday afternoon in late February of 2025. I was not aware that it was the Friday before the last weekend of Carnevale in Venice. A most magical weekend awaited me by sheer chance.

I was met by my friend, we took the Vaporetto to the Lido, and settled into our apartment later in the day.

Saturday noon, we ventured into Venice, also by Vaporetto, of course, deciding our first stop to be San Marco. It was unusually crowded for a February day.

I quickly understood why and lit up. Carnevale was in full swing, particularly on this magnificent sun-lit day.

Groups of costumed revelers had assembled in the Piazza San Marco. One more stunning, crazy, extravagant, bellissimo than the other.

A group of Venice Carnevale revelers in dreamy harlequin costumes in different colors.

Everywhere we turned, a sinfonie of velvet, tulle, feathers, brocade, pearl-studded satins, accessorized with bells, hats, headpieces, wings, even strings of light in every color roared through the plaza. A feast for the eyes and heart.