Carnevale di Venezia 2010: 6 to 16 February
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Harlequin, the most popular of the characters of the “Commedia dell’Arte” is the main protagonist of the Venetian Carnival this year. From 6 to 16 February 2010 Arlecchino will be interpreted by the prestigious performer Ferruccio Soleri in the theatrical show “Arlecchino servitore di due Padroni” (Harlequin, servant of two masters). Staged in Piazza San Marco, the show will mark the opening of the 2010 Venetian Carnival on the night of 6 February. Marco Balich, the festival’s artistic director has expressed great enthuasiasm with regard to the participation of this great artist, which follows that of another great Italian figure, namely Nobel Prize Dario Fo, whose performance opened the edition 2009.
Expectations are high after the success of the last edition which totalled over one million visitors. Organizers chose to use last year’s title of the festival, “sensation: sei sensi per sei sestieri”, the latter being Venice’s main districts Santa Croce, Cannareggio, San Polo, Castello, Dosoduro and San Marco. Each of them will represent one of the six senses.
The whole of Venice becomes a platform at Carnival, with different events happening throughout the city. St Mark’s Square is usually the hub, but during the nearly two weeks of celebrations people wearing masks can be found all over the city. The most elaborate masks and innovative costumes parade throughout the calle of the city, attesting to the refined taste and skills of their makers, the so-called “mascareri”.
The carnival celebrations will feature a row of collective events.
“Il Volo dell’Angelo” is without any doubt one of the highlights of the Venetian Carnival. Held on Sunday 7 February at 12am, it has a guest-star “flying” from the Torre del Campanile, over the crowd, and landing in the beautiful Piazza San Marco, greeted by the Doge and Dogaressa and eventually escorted along a historical parade. The top-model Bianca Brandolini D’Adda, nephew to industrial icon Gianni Agnelli, is the flying angel this year.
Carnivalia, the official game of the 2010 Venice Carnival, is another distinctive mark. Participants get a fulfilling adventure in the city as they are led by Giacomo Casanova and the secrets he has decided to reveal. The game leads them through an itinerary that develops as they solve a number of enigmas set via text message and based on twenty tales written by Alberto Toso Fei about the most original aspects of the Venetian carnival tradition. Carnivalia can be purchased in many different places in the city. It can be played at any time during the Venetian carnival, in whichever part of the city one chooses to play, in group or individually.
The other main attractions are "Carnevale al buio" offering a sensory "in the dark" experience and organized in collaboration with the Istituto dei Ciechi di Milano, A Garden of Lights, and the Street Theatre involving a number of impressive street performances.
The full programme of the Venetian is illustrated below:
CARNIVAL OPENING SHOW Saturday 6 February, at 9pm Piazza San Marco A Show by a big artist in Piazza San Marco to open the Carnival in the name of amusement and culture
TRADITION - IL VOLO DELL’ANGELO Sunday 7 February at 12am A guest-star flies from the Torre del Campanile reaching the ground accompanied by the Doge and Dogaressa’s historical parade
TRADITION - LA FESTA DELLE MARIE Sunday 7 February, 3pm from San Pietro di Castello
TRADITIONAL EVENTS: historical reenactment Sunday 7 and Sunday 14 February, 3.00 p.m. Period Costume Festival and street artists
DRAG QUEEN BEAUTY PAGEANT Friday 12 February, 9pm Piazza San Marco The new Drag Queen beauty contest.
THE BEST CARNIVAL COSTUME CONTEST from 11 to 14 February, 3pm The true sense of the Carnival tradition: costumes are selected by an international jury presided by the Oscar Prize Gabriella Pescucci
TANGO NIGHTS Saturday 13, Sunday 14 and Monday 15, 9pm Piazza San Marco
LA COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE from 11 to 14 February Piazzetta S.Marco
SHROVE TUESDAY IN PIAZZA SAN MARCO Tuesday 16 February, 8.00 p.m. A big musical show to close the 2010 edition
FESTA VENEZIANA Sunday 7 February, 11.00a.m Rio di Cannaregio A coloured and funny big party in Cannaregio, with the spectacular water parade of the Venice Rowing Club and gastronomic specialities.
CAMPO DEL GUSTO – CAMPO SAN GEREMIA From Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 February, 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Spectacular culinary shows, food artists create food and chocolate sculptures. In partnership with Regione Veneto
FRITOIN EXPRESS From Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 February on every Sestiere
CAMPO SAN POLO, SIGHT FOR CHILDREN From Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 February, from 11.00 a.m.
CARNEVALE AL BUIO, CORDERIE DELL’ARSENALE From Saturday 6 to Tuesday 16 February, 11.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Carnevale al Buio is a unique sensorial experience involving expert sightless guides leading visitors round a special sense-hieghtening circuit, totally in the dark.
THE BURLESQUE AT VENICE CARNIVAL 2010 From 6 February to 13 February
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