Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class in Venice, Italy

Badge of ExcellenceVenice, Italy

From $75.53

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

1 hour 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Take a course on mask-making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. See the traditional art of decorating a mask and see what goes into the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Then create your own masterpiece to create a special memory from your time in Venice.

Small-group, Carnival mask-making class in Venice
Learn the ancient techniques to creating beautiful masks
Paint and decorate your own mask to take home
Choose from several time slots to fit your schedule

What's Included

Course of decoration (you will keep the decorated mask)
All necessary paints and supplies
Live commentary

Hotel pickup

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Head to Saint Mark’s Square, where your venue for the mask workshop is located. You’ll be in the heart of Venice, making it easy to fit in other sightseeing plans either before or after the class.

A Venetian master artisan explains the ancient techniques of creating beautiful masks out of papier-mâché. Learn about the traditions of Venetian Carnival and masks that stretch back centuries.

Then enjoy hands-on instruction in creating your own mask led by a master. After the class ends, participants get to take their masks home. Or, if you're in Venice around Carnival, then you can wear your mask and join in the celebrations.

Piazza San Marco

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

334 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 334 reviews

Paint Your Own Venetian Mask

David_E, May 2024

Giorgio was the artist/owner who taught the class. He was wonderful and took time to explain how to get started with the painting after each of us in the class of four selected our masks. He was very helpful and reassuring as we painted. Giorgio did some special decorating on our masks and they came out great. It was a very fun and unique activity and one I highly recommend

Relaxing activity

kinthi_s, Apr 2024

Cost shop with good support from Nicola.. and he added the flourishing touches which made my mask look professional!

Terrific experience

Susan_S, Apr 2024

Knowledgeable leader with generations in mask making. Enjoyable experience and to bring home a beautiful mask.

Mask making class

Mary_P, Apr 2024

Enjoyed the class , which I took with my granddaughter. The proctor explained the significance of the mask as well as the origins of the carnival celebration. A nice history lesson as well as a beautiful souvenir from our time in Venice.

Mask making

Michael_C, Apr 2024

It was a fun experience. Not to long and very enjoyable. The kids loved it and parents can have a drink right outside the store

Great memory in Venice

Tony_M, Apr 2024

Giorgio was amazing. Very patient with our kids. Created an amazing memory in Venice. Great experience and it was perfect on a rainy day. He even helped us grab reservations at a local restaurant!

Great artwork!

Lucy_W, Mar 2024

This experience was a lovely way for us to spend some time with our two sons in Venice. Instructions were clear and friendly and we were really pleased with the outcomes.

Fun time with friends

Laurie_T, Mar 2024

Painting my own Carnevale mask was excellent. Wish it would have been completed drying as we had to pay to take the train back to Venice to pick up

Perfect Sunday Morning workshop

Patrick_v, Mar 2024

Very kind und helpful staff. Special location in the old prison. Can habe own mask design imagination.

Great time

Alexandra_P, Mar 2024

Amazing experience for all the family’s really recommend it! The lady in charge was very friendly and accommodating! The shop itself is very small and cute.

Amazing experience!

Mell_S, Mar 2024

We got lost (tip if you’re new to Venice, leave with plenty of time, shocker!) and arrived late, but they were super accommodating and let us stay late anyway. The masks are amazing, they give you a design suggestion and the way she applies glitter after you paint is perfect to hide your painting imperfections! I even asked for suggestion of colors, which she gave, but clearly lets you do whatever you want and only “interferes” if you ask. Amazing experience, I highly recommend! Went with my 8 yo daughter and she loved it. There’s even a bar right outside so if anyone in your group doesn’t want to paint, they can wait while having a drink or bite to eat!

Loved creating something for our home

Melissa_U, Mar 2024

Such a great one of a kind experience. We loved the act of slowing down and just painting and making something beautiful. We are so happy with how our masks came out and can’t wait to hang them up in our home.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thanks for your kind review

Enjoy the Tradition

Stuart_Y, Feb 2024

The shop is hard to find but very charming. Nicolo runs the program and he is very hands off, getting you started and letting you apply your own artistic sensibilities. The masks are pre made and you paint them. Nicolo adds the decoration and the mask is done. During the process, Nicolo describes the historical purposes of mask wearing in Venice and the continuing tradition of Carnival. Interesting commentary and fun activity.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for the review

Mask design

Yvonne_P, Feb 2024

This class was so fun! We all enjoyed learning about everything to do with "carnival mask making" from someone who's family has been in the business for generations. So patient and kind with all who attended. So worth your while .. while visiting this beautiful city!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review

Unique relaxing and fun Venice experience

Emily_K, Feb 2024

The history of the carnival and the origin of the masks that we received was amazing. The brothers that run the shop were incredibly nice and very talented. It was a relaxing experience that we really enjoyed. I was also impressed with how many languages they knew as people kept coming into the shop during our lesson and they easily switched between languages. We had to reschedule our class for later in the day due to getting on the wrong ferry and the artisans were very accommodating about it. There was confusion on Viators end in the chat from whoever was responding while explaining the situation, but a different person from Venice Tours directly called me to clear things up and confirm that we were okay to go later which was really great. Overall it was such a fun experience and I’d recommend it to anyone!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review

Amazing mask making experience

Nathan_R, Feb 2024

The whole experience of being able to design a mask, the history of the masks that was told to us and being in an authentic setting.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review

Wow! One of the highlights of my trip

Delana_W, Feb 2024

I loved this class. Not only did i get to make my own one-of-a-kind venetian mask but was able to do it in a small group while also learning the history behind the mask from an artist who has a passion for his work.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review

CARNIVAL MASK!!

John_Q, Feb 2024

Nicolai was great and it was a really nice workshop to do together and we also met a really nice lady from Canada! 10/10

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review

Worth every penny.

Michelle_E, Feb 2024

We had a great time. Lots of fun. Very informative and we came out with amazing masks to wear for Carnivale!! Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for your kind review