Masks are inseparable from Venice. The city's Carnival, held in the weeks before Lent, grew out of a long tradition in which masks allowed rich and poor to mix, to gamble, to flirt and to hide, and the figures that still appear in the lanes are Venetian in origin: the white bauta, the long-nosed plague doctor, the elegant moretta and the cheerful Colombina. This workshop gives you the craft behind the costume. The booking page says visitors watch professional Venetian artists make masks and take home a personalised mask of their own. The session runs about one hour and fifteen minutes, with a ten o'clock start, a live guide in English, French, Italian and Spanish, and a maximum group of fifteen. It is held at the Palazzo delle Prigioni, beside the Doge's Palace and a few steps from St Mark's Square, so you can follow it with a palace visit or a walk along the waterfront. Arrive about ten minutes before the start. The experience is aimed at anyone who wants something to do besides queuing for monuments, and it works well for families and for groups of friends. You do not need to be artistic: the aim is to decorate and personalise, with help from people who do this every day, and the finished mask is a better souvenir than most of the factory-made versions on sale in the square.
How it works
You meet at the venue, hear a short introduction to the history of masks, watch how the traditional papier-mache forms are made and finished, and then work on your own mask. The booking page does not specify materials, so ask when you book if you have allergies or a strong preference for style. Group size is capped, which helps you get attention from the artists, but the session is short, so decide quickly on a design. If you want something more elaborate, look at longer private classes elsewhere in the city.
Who it suits
Families with children old enough to hold a brush, couples who want an unusual indoor activity, and travellers visiting outside Carnival who still want a sense of the tradition. Because it is indoors and short, it also makes a good rainy-morning plan. The ten o'clock start is useful, because it leaves the rest of the day for the palace, the basilica and the museums. The booking page does not state an age requirement, so check with the operator if you are booking for small children.
Practical tips
Carry the mask carefully, since paint and decoration can be fragile, and ask how long it should dry before you pack it. If you want a more authentic piece to buy later, remember that Venice has mask workshops in many small streets, and a handmade mask costs more than a mass-produced one. The same quarter has plenty of cafes and the waterfront for a post-workshop walk. As always, remember that Venice has had a day-visitor access fee on selected dates; rules and dates change, so check before you travel.
Masks also have a practical history in Venice: for long periods they were worn for much of the year, not only at Carnival, which is one reason the craft survived. Today the best workshops mix tradition with personal expression, so use the session to try a design you would not find in a souvenir shop.
If you enjoy it, ask the artists where their own studios are, since many welcome visitors and will make a mask to order. A handmade mask is also light and flat enough to pack, which makes it an easy keepsake to carry home.
What to expect
The experience
A short guided workshop where you watch Venetian artists make masks and then take home a personalised mask of your own, held at the Palazzo delle Prigioni beside the Doge's Palace.
Best time
The booking page shows a ten o'clock start, so it suits a relaxed morning before the main sights.
How long
About one hour and fifteen minutes.
Tips
Arrive about ten minutes before the start. Ask how long the mask should dry before you pack it, and carry it flat or in a box.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Hands-on travellers, families and anyone who wants a handmade Venetian souvenir.
- Families
- A good fit for children who enjoy crafts; check the age guidance with the operator.
- Couples
- A creative, memorable hour that costs less than most evening activities.
- Pair with
- The Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica next door.
- Time needed
- About an hour and a half including arrival.
Good questions
Where is the workshop?+
At the Palazzo delle Prigioni, beside the Doge's Palace and a few steps from St Mark's Square.
How long does it last?+
About one hour and fifteen minutes, with a ten o'clock start according to the booking page.
What languages are offered?+
The booking page shows a live guide in English, French, Italian and Spanish.
How big are the groups?+
The operator lists a maximum of fifteen people.
Do I take the mask home?+
Yes. The booking page says you take home a personalised mask of your own.
