Like every year, Venice will be decked out in Carnival colours. In 2025, the Venice Carnival will take place from 22 February to 4 March, all along the lagoon, in all the streets and alleys. It's a chance to rediscover the city from a whole new angle during these 10 days, without interruption, when Venetians will be decked out in magnificent costumes and masks.
It is difficult to pinpoint the precise origins of the Venice Carnival. However, historians agree that it began around 1269, when the wearing of costumes was authorised. The aim of this festival was to reverse the usual social roles: the poor could dress up as the rich and vice versa, thanks to the anonymity offered by masks.
This tradition was interrupted by Napoleon Bonaparte, who feared that the Venetians would use the anonymity of the costumes to conspire against him. It wasn't until the 1970s that Carnival enjoyed a significant revival, and it was officially reintroduced in 1980. Today, the festival is one of Venice's most important events, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world to the heart of the lagoon.
While it's hard to get a hotel or rental accommodation during the Venice Carnival, there are some easy and affordable solutions. Such is the case with our river cruise, aboard the only intimate cruise ship moored in the very heart of Venice, even during the festivities. The MS Michelangelo, a small cruise ship with a maximum capacity of 154 passengers, offers its passengers the chance to experience Venice Carnival from an original and immersive angle. Renovated in 2017, it has all the features of a floating hotel: restaurant, bar and lounge bar, sun deck with deckchairs and fully-equipped cabins. A special feature of this cruise: a sail in the Venetian lagoon for an exceptional view of the city's emblematic monuments.
