During the carnival, all of Venice turns into a riot of colorful masks
A city unique in beauty and luxury seems to have emerged from the depths of the sea, still remaining underwater in some places. It is here that for more than 900 years a mysterious magical carnival has been held, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists from Europe and the world.
The Venice Carnival 2011 is held from February 19 to March 8, at the height of the tourist season, which usually falls in early spring or autumn. The carnival begins with the clinking of glasses in St. Mark's Square, a drinking aria from the opera "La Traviata" and a grand parade on water; carnival processions can also be seen in Nice and Menton.
Both adults and children come to Venice for the carnival to have fun. Little carnival participants, dressed according to all the rules of etiquette, can take part not only in the carnival, but also in children's festivities.
Young guests have at their disposal children's and sports trampolines in the shape of a sea ship for far-off voyages, on which everyone will feel like a brave captain returning to Venice with rich gifts, gold, and jewels. Swimming enthusiasts can play and swim in the pool, where a inflatable swimming ring will help them swim safely. A specially prepared program for children allows a child to have an interesting time.
The amazing atmosphere of festive Venice, like a magnet, attracts all fans of fabulous masquerade, the origins of which come from the ancient Roman Saturnalia, annual festivals in honor of the god Saturn.
The Venice Carnival reached its greatest brilliance and fame during the Renaissance. At that time, residents could hide their faces under masks for the entire month, allowing themselves incredible adventures, intrigues and bloody crimes, while remaining unpunished. Soon a decree appeared that forbade wearing masks in ordinary daily life, and violators were severely punished for non-compliance.
The origin of the word "carnival", according to the Catholic Church, comes from the Latin words "carne vale", which translates as "farewell to meat", thus the ancient festival became the basis for preparing Christians for Lent, the longest before Easter.
A hymn was dedicated to the Venice Carnival, written in 1996 by the famous couturier Pierre Cardin.
The carnival ball is usually held on the magnificent St. Mark's Square near the cathedral and becomes the culmination of the merry spring festivities. Numerous tourists, residents and guests of the city take part in an amazing carnival performance that takes place in the style of traditional 19th-century balls.
The square literally transforms into a huge ballroom where couples in colorful carnival costumes dance the waltz to the music of the waltz king Strauss. The fantastic colors and styles of carnival costumes, richly adorned with luxurious decorations, are complemented by an essential attribute of each participant – a genuine Venetian mask, which is a work of art in itself.
The main goal of each participant of the Venetian masquerade is to keep the secret of their person, so if they see a familiar costume and ask about its owner, one can simply avoid answering by giving a slight bow or elegantly opening a fan.
The carnival night passes unnoticed and in full swing; for everyone who wants to feel like a real noble Venetian, a unique theatrical performance "Secrets of Venice" is held. One must be prepared to be photographed, so a good memory of the amazing event will be an excellent photo with an interesting gesture, a mysterious smile and a graceful posture.
Visiting the best carnival in Europe will be an unforgettable event and will be remembered for a long time.
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