Sunday marked the beginning of the Venetian Carnival, celebrated on the Grand Canal. By TV channel RAI News 24, A large number of tourists came to the city to enjoy live shows until February 13, before the start of Lent according to the Catholic calendar.
This year it was dedicated to the Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo, who died 700 years ago. All carnival programs cover all squares of Venice, including St. Mark’s Square, as well as the islands and mainland of Mestre. The spirit of Asia, about which Polo describes his travels, will appear in numerous performances by street artists and musicians, as well as in theatrical performances. Chinese New Year will also be celebrated between February 2-13 as part of the carnival.
The costumes and masks of the actors add a different color to the carnival. There are workshops in Venice where they sew costumes and make masks. The cost of a full authentic costume can reach several thousand euros. A competition is held for the most beautiful mask at the carnival. However, local journalists note that many carnival participants misinterpret the meaning of the historical masks.
The Carnival of Venice is one of the oldest carnivals in the world and its origins date back to the early Middle Ages. During the heyday of the Most Serene Republic of Venice (697-1797), Venetians wore masks from October until Fat Tuesday. The tradition of Carnival festivities was revived only after it was abolished by Napoleon in the 1970s.
This year the carnival is taking place without any restrictions due to the pandemic. It was held online in 2021. A year later, the carnival was not canceled, but the main shows that attracted public attention were not held. Since then, “Flight of the Angel” from the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square has not returned to the carnival program due to the reconstruction of the historical monument.
Venice Carnival for the first time before started in online format.