1Carnival Once Lasted for Months—And Changed Lives Forever
At its height, Venice Carnival lasted not days, but months—sometimes stretching from autumn until Lent. For a significant portion of the year, the city existed in a state of masked anonymity.
People disappeared into alternate identities for entire seasons. Some returned to their old lives unchanged; others did not. Careers were ruined, reputations destroyed, and alliances reshaped during Carnival’s long reign.
For visitors, Carnival was an escape. For Venetians, it was a transformation—sometimes permanent.
