Venetian mask workshop Ca' Macana

The experience

Venetian masks are one of the best-known symbols of the lagoon city. Their appearance and function, initially, was not related to carnival but were used mainly as a precaution for risky business (such as gambling or smuggling) and to fill a different role than during everyday social life. Over the years, the masks came to be identified exclusively with the Carnival period; previously Venetians wore them from December 26 until Ash Wednesday.

The use of the mask was regulated between the 13th and 15th centuries, when the order of “mascareri,” the Venetian mask makers, was born.

Some of the best-known masks include: the Bauta, the Plague Doctor, Columbine and Pantalone.

The activity we propose, is the decoration or even the construction of Venetian papier-mâché masks at one of the most famous Venetian workshop workshops, Ca’ Macana.

The store has been making and selling products since 1984 and is located in the Dorsoduro area. Here it will be possible to devote oneself to the decoration of one of the typical Venetian masks, chosen from more than 40 different models (duration is one hour), or to the making and subsequent decoration of the same (duration will be about two and a half hours, with the possibility of separating the two parts).