Inside the Darsena Grande, the historic heart of the Serenissima's maritime power, the audience is immersed in a narrative rooted in classical myth yet speaking to the present. The choice of the Arsenale is not merely scenic: it recalls Venice as a city of ingenuity, ritual, and spectacle, where the line between reality and fiction has always been blurred, especially during Carnival.
A tale of transformation, in perfect carnival spirit
The show's protagonist is Alvise, a humble Venetian fisherman who aspires to the immortality of the gods. His journey through the five trials of the elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether, becomes a metaphor for transformation, a beloved theme of the Venice Carnival, a timeless celebration of metamorphosis, masks, and the reversal of social roles. Leading it is Olympia, an almost divine yet intimately human figure, who embodies the inner “call” to awareness. As in the best carnival traditions, the journey is not only spectacular, but symbolic: the true victory is not power, but self-knowledge.
Water as a stage and historical memory
Consistent with the city's history, water is the true protagonist of the show. Just as in the historical parades, regattas, and ancient doge ceremonies of the Bucintoro, the lagoon becomes a living, breathing stage. Performers on flyboards and electric foils glide across the water's surface, while choreographed fountains, lights, and video projections transform the Arsenale walls into an ever-changing, mythological backdrop.The result is a “total theater” that recalls the sumptuous baroque celebrations of Venice of the past, updated with 21st-century visual languages.
Tradition and modernity in dialogue
Under the artistic direction of Massimo Checchetto and the direction of Enrica Crivellaro, The show combines performing arts, original music, and multilingual narration (Italian, Venetian, English, French, and Latin), reflecting Venice's cosmopolitan vocation, which has always been a bridge between cultures. Carnival, which historically has been not only entertainment but also a space for collective reflection, finds in The Call of Olympia a new form of expression: an immersive experience that entertains, amazes, and invites us to question the relationship between humanity, nature, and destiny.
Scheduled for various evenings between February 6th and 17th, (info: theArsenale Water Show ) confirms itself as one of the most anticipated events of the 2026 Venice Carnival. A show that not only looks to the future of entertainment, but respectfully and creatively reinterprets the cultural heritage of a unique city. For Venetians and visitors, The Call of Olympia It's much more than a show: it's a journey into the soul of the Carnival and the very identity of Venice.
