The Carnival of Venice is a spectacle that more than three million visitors to the ancient city every year.
In 2023, the event will take place from February 11 to 21 and hotels are already booked.
For those who can’t make the multi-day celebration, Metro.co.uk trialled a new year-round carnival experience that offers a taste of what the extravaganza is like….
“These suits can cost up to £5,000 to make,” seamstress Arnisa tells me as she fits me into an elaborate dress fit for a queen.
I’m in an atelier in Venice (Atelier La Bauta), which is kind of like an Aladdin’s cave, decorated with carnival masks, rich clothes and accessories reminiscent of the Casanova era.
Having never been to the famous carnival in Venice, I wanted to get a taste of what the festivities would be like, so I signed up for a carnival experience with the hotel I was staying at, Hotel Baglioni Luna.
This historic residence, which sits on the Grand Canal, makes a luxurious base for exploring all that Venice has to offer, with St Mark’s Square, luxury shops and more on the doorstep.
Believed to be the city’s oldest hotel, the palace dates back to 1118 and once housed the Knights Templar.
Thanks to a multi-million pound makeover, this place is as beautiful as ever, with 104 rooms and suites decorated with luxurious damask wallpaper, Murano glass chandeliers, brocade fabrics and modern fittings, from flexible reading lights bedside to flat screen televisions. .
Many of the rooms have unrivaled views of Piazza San Marco, the lagoon and the outer islands of Venice.
I checked into the residence for a two-night break in Venice with my partner and it didn’t disappoint, with friendly service, plush interiors, a wonderfully decadent breakfast room complete with a museum-worthy ceiling fresco and a well-served restaurant. . dining kitchen.
Our room was a king room with a balcony offering overhead views of the neighboring garden, the canal below and the Grand Canal beyond.
The concierge arranged our Carnival Experience for the second day of our stay and we were instructed to meet a private water taxi at the front of the hotel for 8am.
From there, the boat driver took us to the Grand Canal for a stop near the dress maker. Armed with a map, we found the little shop.
The husband and wife team, Armando and Arnisa, told us how they met at university and turned their love for historical clothing into a business they have been running for more than 20 years.
Now they are one of Venice’s most popular costume shops, renting out accessories for Venice Carnival, movies and more.
Arnisa told me that customers reserve costumes up to a year before the carnival, with inquiries pouring in from all over the world, from Australia to Wales.
While I was dressed in a dress, shoes and wig, my partner was dressed in equally beautiful clothing in the other room.
My outfit consisted of a petticoat, covered with a corset dress, high heels and a Marie Antoinette style wig. A velvet choker and a small bag topped off the ensemble.
Meanwhile, my partner’s get-up included a wig, stockings, knee-length trousers, heels and an embroidered jacket.
One of us was suited and booted, a photographer came for our photo shoot.
Gallivant through the streets of Venice wearing 17th– The clothing of the century certainly became a surreal experience and tourists asked to take pictures of us as we went.
The photographer was very professional and took us to a number of beautiful indoor locations to get some unique photos.
While we felt a bit ridiculous in our period costume, the photographer put us at ease and gave us precise instructions on how to pose.
Admittedly, in mid-August, the velvet clothing proved a little hot in the sun, but the photographer tried to take us to darker spots, under arches and small passages near the canals.
After about an hour or so, we went back to the atelier to get undressed and go back to the 21 realmstr century.
Although we were worried about how the whole thing would turn out, we agreed that it had made for a very memorable experience with up to 100 photos serving as a unique souvenir.
Another highlight of our Venice trip was a meal at Baglioni by Sadler’s Canova restaurant.
This ground floor restaurant makes for a great spot and in warm weather be sure to reserve a seat outside the front of the hotel.
The menu changes regularly, but to give you an idea of what to expect, our meal consisted of a medley of line fish, baked squid, pasta sheets with sage and fermented butter, pan-fried crustaceans, a lamb chop fillet artfully presented, a mushroom. cheesecake and a tiramisu with hot chocolate sauce.
Each course was accompanied by a perfectly paired glass of wine, courtesy of our very cheerful waitress. Of course we were ready to roll over in bed after the multi-course feast was tucked away.
Before leaving our palatial residence, I also took a dip in the hotel bathroom on the second floor.
If you’re looking for a place to pamper yourself during your stay in Venice, this establishment is worth checking out with a number of rejuvenating treatments on the menu.
After completing an impressive number of steps in the car-free city, I plumped for the Awakening in Venice treatment, which included an invigorating foot and leg massage with aromatic herbal oils and a facial.
The massage was truly one of the best I’d had in a long time and the intense pressure prevented me from taking a nap.
Two nights later, my partner and I went to another part of Venice and said a fond farewell to our luxurious lair.
I’ve been to Venice many times (in fact, my middle name is Venetia such was my parents’ love for the city!) but I certainly discovered a new side of the city – wigs and all – thanks to a stay at Baglioni Hotel Luna.
How to plan your Venice adventure
British Airways and Ryanair operate regular flights to Venice from various airports in the UK. Priority Pass enables you to gain lounge access for a premium airport experience.
If you are traveling from Stansted, the Stansted Express allows you to travel from London to the airport in just 50 minutes. Uber is another option when it comes to convenient airport transfers. If you’re traveling on an early morning flight, head to the Radisson Blu in Stansted, with premium rooms, a wine bar, two restaurants and a fitness club on offer.
Once you land in Venice, there is the option of taking the Alilaguna water bus into the city or for an unforgettable experience, opt for a private water taxi with fares currently around €120 for a one-way trip.
To book a stay at Baglioni Hotel Luna visit www.baglionihotels.com. For more details about the Carnival Experience, visit www.baglionihotels.com/experiences
Other luxury and unique places to visit in Venice
Amman, Venice
For a grand occasion visit the very discreet seven-star Grand Canal Aman Venice, where George Clooney tied the knot.
This ultra-luxury hotel is located within the Palazzo Papadopoli, which oozes grandeur. The palace is still privately owned and the owners, Count Gilberto and Countess Bianca Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga, live in private apartments on the top floor.
If you don’t make this place your home base, be sure to dive in to enjoy the expertly presented cuisine and expertly crafted cocktails while you check out the interiors.
The dining room on the first floor of the hotel is decorated with twinkling chandeliers, gold leaf drapery and stunning frescoes, taking you back to a time of rich romance.
Book a table inside and enjoy the interior views along with a symphony of expertly presented dishes. Sample dishes include red shrimp carpaccio, burrata cheese, spider crab ravioli and lobster summer salad.
After dinner, head to the bar area, where expert mixologists will whip up a drink to suit your tastes. The Count’s Martini – which he enjoys as a tipple before bed – is a must-try for martini lovers!
In Ven
If you’re a wine lover, head to Venisa, which serves as one of Venice’s few vineyards and keeper of the rare Dorona grape.
The picture-perfect complex, which is a short walk from the colorful island of Burano, boasts two fine restaurants (one with a Michelin star) with home-grown ingredients sourced from the gardens and views over the vineyard.
Homemade focaccia bread is the perfect thing to munch on while enjoying a glass of Venice’s buttery, salt-rich wines or a light pour of Bisol prosecco.
If you can’t get a seat at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Osteria Contemporanea is worth diving into.
The menu features a concise mix of Venetian-inspired desserts, from cod with cream to a selection of cicchetti.
Tasting menus are also available, paired with an interesting wine selection.
Dining aside, wine tasting makes for an enjoyable afternoon, accompanied by a comprehensive tour from one of the knowledgeable staff members.
And, if all the summer leaves you feeling a little groggy, there are boutique hotel rooms on site and scattered around Burano in the form of self-catering apartments.
Don’t leave without taking home one of Venissa’s limited-edition bottles, which come adorned with glittering squares of gold leaf.
They aren’t cheap as the vineyard only produces about 4,000 bottles a year, but they make a durable souvenir repurposed as candle holders.
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