Venice, Italy By: Serena R.

Peak Season Summer time in Venice is the peak season It is characterized BY HIGH HOTEL RATES, High temperatures, and high numbers of crowds. Tourists cram into the expensive gondolas, festivals fill the calendar, and hotels raise their rates. Unfortunately, you'll also experience some stifling heat, a somewhat pungent canal and a fair share of pesky bugs.

Off Season Venice’s off season is from November to April. there are thousands of visitors to Venice, year-round. And even if you come in the coldest days of January or February, you won’t be the only English speaking person on the island! That said, February’s crowds and lines simply don’t compare to those you see in June, July, or even early October. Come out of season, and you’ll benefit from shorter lines, fewer crowds, and the ability to spot the “authentic” Venice that so many high-season visitors miss.

Shoulder Season The shoulder season in Venice is in the spring and the Fall. So, as is usually the case, the shoulder season is the best time to visit Venice. April and may seem like a better time to visit Venice because Venice it very damp in the fall.

Carnevale Carnevale is The world’s largest and most famous masked ball. Venice’s pre-Lenten Carnevale had existed since the Middle Ages, but it came into its own in the 18th century. As the Venetian Republic slipped into terminal decline, the city’s pagan side began to emerge. Carnevale became an outlet for all that had been prohibited for centuries by the strong and sober arm of the doge. Elaborate structures would be set up in piazza San Marco as stages for acrobats, tumblers, wrestlers and other performers. Masks served not only as an escape from the drabness of everyday life, but to conceal the wearer’s identity.