The best Italian destinations for Carnival season

Carnival sweeps through Italy each winter with a sense of irresistible glamour, turning entire cities into vibrant playgrounds of imagination. In the heart of the colder season, from 7 to 17 February 2026, it becomes the most joyful moment to enjoy a refined getaway in Italy, especially when paired with the comfort of a luxury villa for rent. With its loved traditions, this celebration invites travellers into a world of sensory indulgence, where every corner offers something to savour or discover. Elegant masquerade balls unfold in candlelit palaces, street performers transform piazzas into open-air theatres, and traditional treats like fritelle and galani perfume the air with warm sweetness. Between the music, the pageantry, and the endless opportunities to taste, watch, and wander, Carnival becomes an immersive journey into beauty, pleasure, and pure festive artistry.

Traditional Carnival masks

Venice
Nowhere in Italy does winter transform into pure theatrical enchantment quite like Venice during its Carnival. The city becomes a floating salon of elegance, where gilded masks, silk-laden costumes, and centuries-old rituals unfold against the glow of palazzi and canals. The legendary Flight of the Angel, with its graceful descent from the bell tower of San Marco, remains the festival’s most spellbinding moment. Between opulent masquerade balls and refined processions on the water, visitors experience Venice at its most poetic and otherworldly.

Carnival parade, Venice

Viareggio, Tuscany
Energy surges along the Tuscan coast as Viareggio launches its spectacular Carnival, turning the seaside promenade into a bold cultural destination and artistic gateway. The event is famed across Italy for its colossal papier‑mâché floats, towering satirical masterpieces that move like living sculptures and vie for top honours in one of the country’s most prestigious Carnival competitions. Each weekend brings a new wave of colour, humour, and creative audacity, showcasing the city’s unmatched craftsmanship. When night falls, illuminated parades and fireworks over the sea elevate the celebration into a dazzling coastal spectacle.

Papier‑mâché floats, Viareggio

Oristano, Sardinia
Sardinia’s Carnival of Oristano stands apart for its raw intensity and deep medieval roots. The festival revolves around the Sartiglia, an equestrian tournament where magnificent horses and fearless riders thunder through the streets in a breathtaking attempt to spear a suspended star. The spectacle is a fusion of athletic mastery, ritual symbolism, and centuries-old tradition, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion. Witnessing the Sartiglia offers travellers a rare encounter with Sardinia’s most powerful cultural heritage.

Sartiglia, Oristano

Fano, Marche
Warm, playful, and unmistakably local, Fano’s Carnival offers a charming contrast to Italy’s grander festivities, making it an ideal setting for a relaxed Italian vacation. Its signature tradition, the “gettata di dolci,” turns every parade into a joyful shower of sweets, delighting families and visitors who gather along the streets. The atmosphere blends artisanal creativity with a welcoming community spirit, giving the event a uniquely light-hearted character. The sweet throwing ritual remains the highlight, filling the town with laughter, colour, and irresistible treats.

Chiacchiere, traditional food for Carnival

Putigliano, Puglia
Putignano’s Carnival in Puglia brings to life one of Italy’s oldest and most captivating festive traditions. This year’s theme, “Dove tutto è il contrario di tutto” or “Where everything is the opposite of everything”, sets the tone for a playful world of paradoxes and imaginative reversals that inspire the spectacular allegorical floats and masked performances. The historic streets of Putignano pulse with vibrant processions, folk dances, and the unmistakable craftsmanship of its papier mâché masters, creating an atmosphere where satire and creativity flourish. 

Carnival parade in motion, Putignano

As Italy prepares to welcome another season of vibrant Carnival celebrations, the country comes alive with artistry, tradition, and unforgettable experiences, each celebration offering its own window into the soul of Italian culture. Whether you’re drawn to masquerade balls, seaside parades, or medieval pageantry, this is the perfect moment to plan an escape that blends festivity with refined comfort. Contact us and wander through our selection of villas to discover the perfect retreat for your Italian celebration.