Pictures by Katia Amore
Visiting Venice during Carnival celebrations is once in a life time experience.
First recorded in 1296, when the Senate of the Republic issued an edict declaring the day before Lent as a public holiday, this tradition has attracted visitors since the early seventeenth century becoming a regular attraction of the Grand Tour.
What makes these celebrations special in Venice, is not only the splendors of the city, but also the particular style of masks and costumes, with their elegance and beauty.
Traditionally people were allowed to wear masks between Santo Stefano (December 26th) and midnight of Shrove Tuesday. They were used to hide the wearer's identity and social status for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal, others just personal, such as secret romantic encounters.
The original masks were rather simple in design and decoration and often had a symbolic and practical function. The Larva or Volto, for example, which was worn with a tricorn and cloak to make up the Bauta, had a shape which allowed the bearer to breathe and drink easily, and so there was no need to take it off.
Over the years, the art of masks making in Venice has developed into art making. Today's "mascareri" are true artists who create their masterpieces using various techniques and materials. Below you can enjoy the pictures we took in Venice, in two amazing workshops in the Dorsoduro area: Ca' Macana and Casin dei Nobili.
Ca' Macana
Ca' Macana is one of the oldest studios in Venice. They opened the workshop and shop at the beginning of the 1980s, when, after two centuries of inactivity, the Venice Carnival was finally revived. Now they have two shops in Dorsoduro. Here you can find traditional masks as well as new models, like for examples the ones with feathers chosen by director Stanley Kubrik for his movie "Eyes Wide Shut" with T. Cruise and N. Kidman.
Casin dei Nobili
Casin dei Nobili opened in May 2002 in a wonderful location which includes a workshop, a shop and a small garden. Since the beginning, they worked on developing a special style of mask, a baroque collection which is absolutely unique. Their masks have already been featured on Vogue Nippon and AD, are mentioned in Traveler, Departures and many other magazines and were also presented during the Australian tv show “things to do before you die”.
Enjoy the photos below and if you ever go to Venice do not miss the chance to visit both workshops.
