Help
Iv`ve just been reading some of the comments about the crowds in Venice during the carniale and nearly being trampled underfoot etc! Is it really that bad? I`ve been wanting to go to the carnivale for so long and have booked a flight for 1 week but now I am REALLY concerned, I don`t think my husband will cope if they are that bad. I expected crowds but they sound horrifying! Is there a particular time when the crowds are worse, at the beggining or end? May be I can change the Flights if there is a time that you can still enjoy seeing the costumes but the crowds are not as overwhelming. I have only just discovered this site otherwise I would have done a bit more research before booking!

Boy, I haven't seen any posts that talk about people getting trampled!!
Hopefully someone else who has first-hard experience will jump in, but I am also planning on going to Venice during Carnival next year and I am not too worried about the crowds. I am going with friends who will be making their THIRD trip to Carnival and they always have a great time.

They did tell me that San Marco is absolutely packed during two of the opening events, the Historical Procession and the Flight of the Angel. I believe that both those events occur the first weekend. I really don't mind. I am very much looking forward to the entire experience.

There will be plenty of areas of Venice (away from the main tourist areas) that will be fine. From my friends' photographs, the people wearing costumes pose in many different locations, so I don't think that will be a problem either.

I've been in Venice for two carnivale. It is very crowded, but short of mayhem. The walk from San Marco to the Accademia bridge is usually about ten minutes. One afternoon during carnivale the walk was forty five minutes. Very crowded, but as always, fun.

Thanks for your help I think we will give it a go. Do you know if it is possible to get to the other islands or mainland during the carnivale?
Thank you in advance!

Hi
just for future search purposes, I'm including the correct spelling here

Carnevale

You could try searching on
Venice Carnevale for past postings

I was in Venezia for carnevale in February 2003. Unfortunately, the person who planned the trip gave us all only 2 days there, before moving on to Firenze, and then finally to Roma. Yes, there were crowds, but for some reason, I wasn't bothered at all by it. Most people were European, and I heard so much French spoken I could have sworn I was in France instead of Italy. I guess I just expected crowds, and so paid no attention. But I did pay much attention to all the costumes. They, and the masks, are beautiful and spectacular, and the costumed strollers meander slowly through the piazzas and pause now and again, so one can take lots of marvellous photos. And the piazza San Marco at night with all the lights is magical. If you're like me, you'll be so taken by the scenery and the color that you'll give hardly a thought to the crowds. I have no regrets. Venezia è una città incantevole.

Thank you for your information. It does sound wonderful and I have wanted to go to the carnival for so long, I was so upset when I had read the reviews about how horrifying the crowds were and really didn`t want to cancel. I don`t really like crowds but it was my husband that I was really concerned about he is 69 and he really didn`t want to go, but now reading yours and other helpful postings I think that maybe it will be ok, I am sure we will be able to find somewhere at times that isn`t too crowded . Your comments about it all brought tears to my eyes and as we are both keen photogaphers hopefully we will get plenty of oertunities like you said around and about places other than St Marks square.
Thank you again