Wide view of Venice: Piazza San Marco - Riva degli Schiavoni

Italian Carnival TIMELINE

To better follow the development (and decline) of Carnival and Commedia dell'Arte in Venice and other regions of Italy, here is a timeline, continuosly being updated.

1094

In a document by Doge Vitale Faliero Dodoni, referring the entertainment for the public, the word Carnevale is mentioned for the first time

1162

Beginning of celebrations for the Carnival of Venice in Saint Mark's Square

1268

Around this time in Venice, some revelers started to use masks and disguises during Carnival

1268

Proibition of throwing perfumed eggs in St. Mark's Square

1338

The Serenissima Government special law: "Masks cannot be worn after dark in the streets"

1436

The Venetian Mask Makers get their official business recognition with their own statute

1439

Johannes Gutenberg invents printing, making it possible to reproduce books in quantity, instead of almost unique copies made in Monasteries

1347

The so called Black Death plague hits Venice, and kills 3/5 of the population in 18 months, but it wasn't the only time this would happen

1458

The Serenissima Government special law: "Men are not allowed to dress as women or fools"

1494

Albrecht Dürer invents image printing (woodcut) and the famous "Ship of Fools" is created

1545

The first Commedia dell'Arte company - a cooperative - is created and officially registered in Padova: Compagnia di Ser Maphio

1548

First Svolo del Turco in St Mark's Square. It will take 130 years before - in 1678 - a Venetian would officially match that exploit

1564

In a Notary Public in Rome there is the registration of a Commedia dell'Arte troupe with a woman, with equal rights, supposedly

1570

Caterina de' Medici - Queen of France at the time - invites the Commedia dell'Arte troupe "I Gelosi" to perform in Paris

1585

Pope Sisto V bans the Commedia dell'Arte from the Church territories for moral reasons

1585

The Serenissima Government special law: "No gun weapons allowed in the streets of Venice, blades only"

1606

The Serenissima Government special law: "Masked persons cannot enter a church"

1637

The first theater in the world open to every paying viewer is created in Venice, the "San Cassiano Theater"

1638

The "Il Ridotto" the legal and official Gaming House in Venice starts its activity

1660

First known fixed installation in Paris of a Commedia dell'Arte troupe

1688

Last Bear Chase in Santa Maria Formosa at the presence of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinando de' Medici

1703

The Serenissima Government special law: "Masked persons are banned for the whole year from gaming houses"

1705

The Serenissima Government special law: prohibition for the Castellani and Nicolotti to continue their fights

1718

The Serenissima Government special law: "Masked persons are banned during Lent"

1744

The Ridotto, the gambling Casino in Venice is lastly closed because considered immoral

1745

First Carlo Goldoni's play is represented in Venice: "Arlecchino servitore di due padroni" (Harlequin Servant of two Masters)

1797

Austria invades Venice and declares and end to the Carnival celebrations

1979

There is a revival of the tradition of Carnival in Venice

1999

The Carnival of Venice gets a further renewal, using classic themes and more modern aestethics, thanks to Bruno Tosi

 

And here go my biggest thanks to Herr Johannes Gutenberg who invented text printing in 1439, and to Herr Albrecht Dürer who invented image printing (engraving) in 1494, thus helping the diffusion of ideas.


Copyright by Roberto Delpiano 1997-2022 - visit my website www.delpiano.com