The Venice Carnival, which runs from February 22 to March 4 this year, is the carnival of carnivals. Now, if you're expecting a little Rio or New Orleans debauchery, don't bother booking the flight. Venice is pure class with a capital C. Aspirational carnivaling.

This is not your average night out on the town. The Venice Carnival is an annual tradition that’s centuries old, dating back to a time when masquerade balls allowed commoners to mix with nobility and nobility to get a little common. We can't promise any action, but I find it's little more exciting if you can't see who you're snogging. (I'd suggest not taking off the mask then.)

Sure, it's going to be a rigorous schedule of partying - but you're up to it. And, by the way, this isn't like your sister's fancy dress Christmas party where you showed up with a wig on and called it Ozzy Osborne. This is full regalia. Corsets, hoop skirts, powdered wigs, the lot.

The official party of the Venice Carnival kicks off on February 27 at the Ballo Tiepolo. Waltz in the candle-lit setting of the Palazzo Pisani-Moretta, perched above the lapping (often stinky, but you've got your nose in the air anyway) Grand Canal, with acrobats, magicians and three orchestras to amuse you.

If you are still standing, and want to try for the last ditch attempts at affection, try the free Trionfo de l'Amor (Triumph of Love) celebration in Campo San Maurizio from sunrise to sunset. This event, in celebration of eroticism and candy, requires once again, a costume and mask.

And last but not least, there's always the 'Gatecrashers Ball', which involves trying to blag your way into one of the thousands of 'too exclusive to talk about' private parties going on around the city. Befriend a local as getting tossed out in your party 'wares is never a good look.

Venice Carnival
February 22 to March 4, programme on www.carnivalofvenice.com

EC