Venice Carnival to Recreate Oppulence of the 1700s
Venice turned St Mark's Square into a renaissance garden on Sunday for the start of its annual carnival. Reuters says the carnival lasts ten days and will "recreate the opulence of the 1700s, a decadent time during which Venice's elite spent fortunes on parties and gambling, allowing their military and commercial empire to decay until Napoleon conquered the city in 1797."
The Chicago Tribune reports that this year's theme is the five senses.
The theme this year is the five senses. The Cannaregio neighborhood will host tasting booths where chefs will explain their recipes, and food artists will create food and chocolate sculptures. There will even be a carnival-in-the-dark show where you have to feel your way around.
St. Mark's Square will host historical parades, concerts and drag queens competing for best costume. The city's most famous piazza will also be the best place to see costumed individuals and couples strolling to show off their matching original creations or traditional Venetian masks, which are heavily hawked all year long.
In the past, the most common mask was the "bauta"—a white, hook-nosed mask worn under a black cape and held in place with a tricorn hat. Covering the whole body, it gives complete anonymity, hiding the wearer's face, social status and even gender.
The carnival celebrates the beginning of the tourist season in Venice. You can read more about the annual Venice Carnival here, here, here. and here.
