|
Venice takes journey in time for annual Carnival
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-30 08:54
The streets of Venice filled with revellers who came from the four corners of
the world for a taste of 18-century magic during the city's annual Carnival.
A masked person poses at San Marco square in
Venice at the start of Carnival.
[AFP] |
Wrapped in dark robes and golden
masks, cameras in hand, tourists and others braved the biting cold to converge
on Saint Mark's square, the beating heart of the Carnival, where the first
parades of the year were held late on Saturday.
The water-lapped city each year plunges back in time for the two-week
festival, which was set to start officially Sunday at midday and to run until
Mardi Gras on February 8.
On the central Saint Mark's square, "Commedia dell'Arte" characters,
Casanovas and courtesans, twirled gallantly before the cameras, as onlookers
marveled at their powdered wigs and grotesque, beautiful masks.
Many couples simply wandered arm-in-arm through the crumbling masterpiece of
a city, basking in the romantic intensity of the occasion.
For those wishing to join in, the city was haunted by street vendors hawking
carnival costumes, while for five euros street make-up artists offered to paint
faces with swirling baroque motifs, glitter and endless fake lashes.
"There is a commercial side to it, but the costumes are fascinating, there is
a real sense of camaraderie, with people looking at us as if we were true
Venitians," said Alain and Anna, a Parisian couple kitted out with brand new
carnival outfits -- swishing black capes and golden masks.
"None of it is for real but we play along," they joked.
"It's true we sell more at Carnival, said Valentina, 33, owner of one of a
dozen Venitian workshops which continue to make the traditional ceramic and
papier mache masks.
"But Venice is about refinement, period costumes, we aren't selling Batman
outfits or zombie masks," she said, though acknowledging that Venitian elegance
comes with a high price tag.
At Casin dei nobili, Valentina's workshop, an 18th-century wig, laced with
pearls, Swarowsky crystal and ostrich feathers, will set a reveller back by
around 500 euros (650 dollars).
Across the road at Ca'Macana, a black velvet mask splashed with peacock,
ostrich and cockerel feathers costs 260 euros.
"People come to Venice with a camera -- or with a costume if they can afford
it," summed up Francesco, a dapper Carnival-goer, as he cradled the silver top
of an antique walking stick.
|
 | | | Pop diva poses for glossy magazine | | |  | | | Eyes wide open on the world | | |  | | | Kidman's restraining order request granted | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Life
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
