Duration
1 hour 15 minutes
Venice · experience
Venetian carnival mask-making class
A hands-on hour with a master artisan painting a papier-mâché Venetian carnival mask to take home, in a small family-run atelier.
1 hour 15 minutesSmall workshop, max 4From €69
The experience
A hands-on hour painting a Venetian carnival mask with a master artisan, from choosing your design to taking it home.
A Venetian master artisan explains the history of papier-mâché mask-making and the traditions of Carnival before guiding hands-on decoration of a chosen mask, with a choice of colours and finishing touches added by the artisan at the end.
The workshop is set in a small, family-run atelier — for some sessions guests are the only participants, which leaves more time for the artisan’s own stories about Carnival and the trade.
Group
Small workshop, max 4
Languages
Instruction in English and 3 other languages
Format
Hands-on workshop with a master artisan
Meeting point
San Marco 596 Venetian Masks, Piazza San Marco, or Circolo Artistico at the Prisons’ Palace
Pickup and drop-off
Not included.
Who this suits
A good choice when it matches the way you want to use the city.
- A hands-on souvenir with a real Venetian craft tradition behind it.
- Families — no artistic skill required, and children take part too.
- A quieter, more personal alternative to a fixed sightseeing itinerary.
Itinerary
The route at a glance.
The guide and exact sequence are confirmed on the day. Times below are a useful indication of how this visit is normally structured.
- 1At the start
Meet the master artisan
Meet at the atelier in Piazza San Marco or the Prisons’ Palace, depending on the slot booked.
- 2First part of the class
History and technique
A short introduction to papier-mâché mask-making and Carnival traditions.
- 3Main part of the class
Paint and decorate
Choose a mask and colours, and decorate it with guidance from the artisan.
What the visit includes
The practical detail before you choose a date.
Highlights
- Guided decoration of a papier-mâché mask, choosing your own colours
- The history of Venetian Carnival and mask-making
- A finished mask to take home
- A small, family-run artisan atelier
Included
- ✓ Decoration course
- ✓ The decorated mask to take home
- ✓ All paints and supplies
- ✓ Live commentary
Not included
- • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Before you go
A few essentials for the day.
- Maximum 4 travellers per session.
- Not wheelchair accessible.
- Does not run during exceptionally high tide; affected sessions are postponed or refunded.
- Cancellation terms are shown on Viator before you book.