It was founded in 1999 by Giovanna Barbiero Bonaventura, who had been committed since the early 1980s to organizing events that could revive its history and undeniable magic.

With its deep historical and cultural roots and the unique setting of the Lagoon City, our Carnival remains a special moment, where fun becomes a dream. This is precisely the purpose of the Association: to give members and friends from all over the world the opportunity to enter this magnificent dimension together.

The most beautiful palaces of Venice, such as Palazzo Labia, Ca’ Rezzonico, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, Ca’ Donà delle Rose, the Napoleonic Hall of the Museo Correr, the Scuola Grande S. Giovanni Evangelista, Ca’ Sagredo, to name a few, have opened their doors for us for parties, concerts, and balls in their sumptuous halls.

Among our activities, we have also paid attention to social causes by organizing charity events.

One of the events we have organized since our inception is the Water Parade of Nations in honor of the Consular Corps of Venice, always followed by prestigious concerts. We have given space to young talents, including those from the “Benedetto Marcello” Conservatory, as well as the honor of hosting renowned stars.

We are proud of the sponsorships we have obtained: the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and the Municipality of Venice.

There have also been numerous official cultural exchanges around the world, for example in the Principality of Monaco, in China, and recently in Colombia in collaboration with UniNorte (Universidad del Norte) in Barranquilla, home to a very famous Carnival recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

The Association was founded in Venice in 2017 with the aim of teaching and promoting the dances of the second half of 19th-century France.

The Historic Friends of the Venice Carnival are a new Carnival organization, conceived as the natural evolution of the ‘Friends of the Carnival’ association, founded in 1990 with the aim of promoting Venice—its history, palaces, culture, traditions, and customs—to all those who come to the city, drawn by the charm of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The Association organizes costumed events for guests from all over the world, while paying special attention to local residents, for whom it offers the traditional workshops dedicated to the creation of Carnival masks and costumes.

In the timeless atmosphere of the Venice Carnival, the Estense Battalion of Modena presents dances and balls of 19th-century tradition, offering a captivating journey into the ambiance of the 1800s.

The Estense Battalion is a Cultural Association from Modena that, since 2003, has been presenting 19th-century traditional dances and balls in period costume at events throughout Italy. The most recent performances have been: “FRANZ and SISSI”, the musical story of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria, and “THE DUKE’S LAST WALTZ”, a musical account of the final days of the reign of the Duke of Modena, Francesco V.

The Compagnia del Saltarello was founded in 2002 by six enthusiasts of historical dance. Since then, the group has been dedicated to the study and promotion of 15th- and 16th-century dances, both Italian and European.

“La Corte del Leon” an association belonging to the Third Sector, was founded with the goal of showcasing Venice in its most authentic essence: its history, palaces, culture, and the customs that have shaped its timeless charm. It is aimed at all those who visit the city, drawn by the unique beauty of one of the most captivating places in the world.

Venice is a lively tourist destination throughout the year, but it is during Carnival that the city has, for centuries, attracted visitors from all over the world, eager to immerse themselves in a festive atmosphere where wearing historical costumes becomes a natural part of the experience. During this period, parties are organized in period attire as well as in fantasy costumes, evoking the richness of Venice of past centuries and the spirit of leisure that animated its inhabitants, in the city’s most picturesque and emblematic locations.

Within this context operates the Association “La Corte del Leon” which organizes parties in 18th- and 19th-century costume, offering participants the opportunity to experience firsthand the atmosphere of those times. The events attract enthusiasts not only from Italy but also from the United States, Canada, and numerous European countries.

Outside of the Carnival season, the Association continues its activities by organizing costume events in historic palaces, guided tours of sites of particular cultural interest, as well as courses in historical tailoring and dance, thereby contributing to the promotion and preservation of Venetian tradition throughout the year.

The Historical Group “Le Maschere di Mario del ’700 Veneziano” invites the public to embark on a journey to discover the truest meaning of its artistic and historical research: a path for which Venice is not only the ultimate destination but also the natural starting point. A city of iconic beauty, Venice has fascinated the world for centuries, suspended in delicate balances between land and water, daily life and tourism, artisanal tradition and globalization.

Over the years, the Group has achieved a high level of professionalism, distinguishing itself through meticulous attention in preparing the dances and through the creation of historical costumes that faithfully reproduce the styles and fabrics of 18th-century Venice and France. These two deeply intertwined cultures marked one of the most splendid periods of the 18th century, an era of ingenuity, art, and Enlightenment, animated by extraordinary figures such as Casanova, Goldoni, Tiepolo, Canaletto, and Vivaldi.

The performances are based on original 18th-century dances and music by the great composers of the era, including Vivaldi, Händel, Pachelbel, and Telemann, capable of recreating refined and engaging atmospheres.

The shows transport the audience fully into the Rococo period, which characterizes much of the 18th century, evoking the Venice of Casanova, Goldoni, and Vivaldi, as well as the France of Louis XV.

The quality of preparation, choreographic technique, and elegance of the costumes have naturally allowed “Le Maschere di Mario del ’700 Veneziano” to represent Venetian culture beyond regional borders, participating in nationally significant events such as the famous Infiorata of Noto in Sicily, and numerous television programs, including Linea Verde Radici (Rai Uno), Paesi che Vai (Rai Due), dedicated to the signing of the Treaty of Campoformio at Villa Manin in Passariano, and Riviera del Brenta – un rendez-vous tra le Ville Venete (TVA Vicenza).

In this way, the audience is ideally transported into the sumptuous Venetian palaces of the time, immersed in a world of dance, elegance, and lightness, where ladies and gentlemen move in a harmonious whirl of music and delight. Through refined movements and lavish costumes, the Group guides the public in discovering Venetian Rococo, a period marking both the decline of the millennia-old Republic of Saint Mark and a renewed assertion of the city on the international stage, thanks to its extraordinary artistic, cultural, and social vitality.

The historical group “Nobiltà Sabauda” traces its roots back to 1997, when it was founded on the occasion of the Rivoli event “C’era una volta un Re,” held annually in September to commemorate the abdication of King Vittorio Amedeo II, which took place in 1730 at Rivoli Castle.

Based in Rivoli, the group is registered in the Register of Historical Groups of the Province of Turin, with which it has actively collaborated for many years in numerous cultural events.

The association is divided into two distinct sections: “Nobiltà Sabauda 1730” and “Nobiltà Sabauda 1861,” both dedicated to the faithful reconstruction of specific historical periods.

Comprising around forty participants, the group stands out for the elegance of its costumes, created with great attention to detail and in full respect of the historical accuracy that has always characterized its work. This professionalism has allowed “Nobiltà Sabauda” to gain wide visibility and recognition beyond the Piedmont region.

Through theatrical performances, dances, and parades, presented during cultural events, historical reenactments, fairs, and local festivals, the group aims to recreate the atmospheres and lifestyles of the past, bringing to life scenes of popular, bourgeois, and aristocratic daily life.

Historic palaces and picturesque city squares thus become ideal settings where the public can immerse themselves in a captivating journey through time.