Venice carnival

[spudqueen]

I'm going to Venice and my first full day (arriving late evening) will be the last day of the carnival. Are there any things that are a 'must' do on this day? Will have a few days afterwards to do all the sights so willing to spend this day on carnival things - if I know where to go, when!

[Mosaic]

Getting around during Carnivale is frantic as the city is so crowded. It is also perishing cold. People in extravagant costumes are all heading for st mark's square, where there is the carnival ball into which the best dressed are admitted free. So the costumes to be seen parading by to be seen are qute something else.
However some carnival goers are umpty about being photographed. Seems odd to me, for someone to dress up as a camp version of a renaissance imagining of a roman general, then get upset when photographed, but just so you know.
The land route from the railway / bus terminal to st mark's square is clearly marked - and in any case just follow your the crowds - but is incredibly crowded at carnival. Take it as slowly as everyone else and as you pass the supermarket (I only found the one) go in and stock up, as cafe prices are BOGGLING especially if you just fancy a swift half or a nip of brandy.
St marks square is where everyone heads, and when I was there last year it was so busy you had you hold your camera above your head to take a photo. \like a football crowd without the swearing. Plenty of pushing though - after all, this is Italy. (continued)

[Mosaic]

They were literally queuing round the block for the Doge's palace and St Mark's church so we didn;t bother, being only there for a day and a half, but riding round and round on the water buses was fab - up and down the Grand Canal, and even the one that goes right out to the outlying islands and the cemetery - dead cheap (ho ho sorry) and you get to sit down and see the crowds from a distance. You can get a day pass for not many euro's.

We just enjoyed the wandering about, the atmosphere and the being there.

Then next morning, carnival over, watching the laundry barges, builders barges and the barges carrying white goods going about theor daily business. Still effing cold though....

[coccinelle]

I was there too last year but the crowds are only really between the railway station and St Mark's Square. Everything is quiter away from this humanway. Every year is different so activities will change but the last day does happen in St Mark's Square with the firework display at the end. One of the reasons the pros don't like having their photos taken by tourists is because they want the professional photographers to take them so they'll appear in magazines; I loved Venice and even if it was cold we didn't have a rainy day, just blue skies all week. One day, get up early and go to the Rialto market to watch the chefs buying their produce and the stall holders singing away to the music; not a tourist in site! We loved Burano and Murano islands and if you're planning on staying a few days look into a Venice Pass which allows you entry into churches, museums, galleries, Doge's palace and you're free to use the vaporetti as you wish.
Have a great time.

[spudqueen]

Thanks for your answers guys. Was going to head to St Marks Square anyway, I have read about the dressing up, the ball and the fireworks. Just wondered if there was anything else going on that day, eg I saw a picture of something going on on Burano on the last day of the carnival and wondered if that was worth going to, or whether we should stay more central on that day.

[coccinelle]

You could do both. Burano means some peace and quiet for a time. Take the vaporetto from Fondamento Nova, (north of Venice) (LN lines) as they're a lot quicker than from San Marco.