Carnevale Celebrations in Italy

Carnival festivals, Carnevale in Italian, started last weekend in Venice with a gondola and boat parade in the Grand canal and an angel descending from St. Mark's bell tower. Celebrations will continue daily through February 28, the actual day of Carnevale in 2006. Although Venice is well-known for its Carnevale festivals, Carnevale will be celebrated all over Italy February 25-28, even in small villages like Pontremoli and Zum Zeri near my house in the Lunigiana region of northern Tuscany. Celebrations include parades, parties, fireworks, and especially masks.

Read more about Carnevale Festivals in Italy and where to celebrate carnival in Italy and around the world.

In case you're concerned about pickpockets in Venice, Slate has an interesting article, The Curse of the Venetian Pickpockets, subtitled "A citizen crime patrol is protecting tourists and delighting police".