Venice Carnival, Annual carnival festival in Venice, Italy
The Venice Carnival is an annual festival where the city transforms into a spectacle of historical costumes, elaborate masks, and colorful performances spread across ten days. Events include street shows, costume competitions in Saint-Marc Square, and traditional acts such as the lion's flight from the bell tower.
The carnival's roots extend to the Middle Ages, when mask-wearing allowed people to conceal their identity and transcend social boundaries. After a long interruption, the festival was revived in the 1980s and has since grown into a major international event.
The carnival transforms Venice into a place where historical costumes and ornate masks become the language of the festival, allowing people to move freely and express creativity through dress. The streets fill with handcrafted disguises that echo the city's past, creating a shared experience of playful reinvention.
The festival takes place in February and the city becomes very crowded, so book accommodation well in advance. Navigate using the many squares and canals as landmarks, and wear comfortable shoes since exploring the narrow alleys requires considerable walking.
During the carnival, a performer dressed as an angel executes a daring descent from the highest point of the bell tower to Saint-Marc Square, a spectacle that has captivated audiences for centuries with its boldness. This time-honored act remains one of the festival's most memorable moments.
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