Venice carnival masks: history, types, bans, and revival

Venice feels like a film set made real: canals instead of streets, boats in place of cars, venerable palaces—and masks. They are far more than photogenic props. Masks thread through the city’s history and culture and once even shaped everyday life.

How it began

The first mentions of Venice’s carnival date back to 1094, and in 1296 it became an official holiday. From then on, every year before Lent, the city filled with vivid costumes, music, and merrymaking. People put on masks to hide their identities and move through the crowd with more freedom. With a face concealed, no one could tell whether you were poor or noble, man or woman, local or visitor—social labels briefly lost their grip.

Masks made it possible, for a while, to step outside the usual limits. You could dance, flirt, argue, or simply wander the streets—without fear of judgment.

The masks

Bauta—a white mask with a long chin, worn with a tricorn hat. It covered the face yet let the wearer speak and eat without removing it.

Volto—a simple, rounded white mask that hid the entire face.

Colombina—a small mask that covered only the upper part of the face, often decorated with feathers and stones.

Moretta—a black mask held in place by a small button gripped between the teeth. While it was on, speaking was impossible.

Plague Doctor—a mask with a long “beak.” In the Middle Ages, physicians placed aromatic herbs inside it to avoid breathing contaminated air; over time, it became part of carnival costume.

When masks began to be banned

At first, masks were worn not only during carnival. People began using them to dodge debts, sneak around on lovers, gamble, and do what was usually off-limits—worries that did not escape the authorities.

As early as the 13th century, the first laws appeared restricting masks outside festivities. For instance, entering monasteries in a mask was forbidden, as was wearing one during games. Over time the line hardened: masks were allowed only on carnival days—nothing more.

Forgotten traditions and a new beginning

When the Venetian Republic ceased to exist in 1797, the carnival faded with it. People stopped wearing masks, and the tradition waned. Only at the end of the 20th century did the city bring it back.

Today Venice’s carnival is again a radiant spectacle. Tourists arrive from around the world for costumed parades, balls, and, of course, the masks themselves. They are crafted by hand in dedicated workshops, especially on Murano, an island renowned for its glassblowers.

Masks are no longer tools for hiding or switching roles; now they are part of art, memory, and the Venetian look. Yet the core idea lingers: at least once a year, anyone can become someone else—no questions asked, no judgment, no borders.