From Saturday 26th February to Mardi Gras 8th March 2011

Such an important event as the anniversary of the 150 years of the Unification of Italy with the coincidence of Shrove Tuesday and the International Women’s Day have inspired Venezia Marketing&Eventi the theme chosen for Venice Carnival 2011, which will be entitled ‘Nineteenth Century’ from Senso to Sissi, the town of women. In particular, the references in the title derive from the 1954 cinematic masterpiece of Luchino Visconti and Princess costume icon and elegance of the Nineteenth century.

A great innovation of this edition will be the prologue at the weekend before (19th – 20th February) the official date of opening of the Carnival, scheduled for 28th March, which will be dedicated to the traditional “Festa Veneziana” in collaboration with the Venetian AEPE and Venetian rowing teams with their rowing boats which will open and close the event. Venice Carnival 2011 will close on March 8th with a silent procession of rowing boats along the Grand Canal, lit only by candlelight in a charming reunification of the city itself.

The Carnival direction has decided to give a strong cultural connotation to Venice Carnival 2011 and the organization team has reaffirmed the intention to improve the Venetian dimension of the event by involving the whole city and by taking advantage of its exceptional artistic heritage. Even though not much is known about the program, it also foresees the night opening of theaters, museums and churches that could host events of high cultural level and at the same time the organizers are still looking for appropriate spaces for the continuation of night festivities suitable for the youth, with the assurance of creating not so many inconvenience to residents. Tania Danieli