The historic lagoon city of Venice stands on several islands joined together by a multitude of bridges and a canal system in place of streets.

The palaces that lie along the Grand Canal represent Venetian power and influence over the centuries. Gothic building artistry and Baroque affluence meet head-on in this grand and noble city that overflows with nostalgia.

It is during the winter months that Venice is particularly fascinating, when carnival masks blend perfectly with the architecture of the lagoon city as though on a magnificent stage which has been created by an ingenious set designer. Everything is play, disguise and admiration. Masks are closely associated with the city’s history and were first mentioned in a law which was passed in 1268.

As in earlier times, St. Marks Square is the centre of today’s carnival. Under the five domes of St. Marks Cathedral, a colourful spectacle develops when masked forms stroll under the arches and arcades of the city’s grand buildings.

The Carnival is a unique catwalk on which vanity can be unashamedly displayed. Where just a simple cardboard mask is not good enough and where the inspiration for dressing up, disguise and enchantment is essential. Here, everyone is a performer looking for the admiration of the crowd. At carnival time only a lack of imagination is forbidden.

Nowhere else do mystique and majesty come together to create such atmospheric and harmonious forms as here in this legendary and intriguing lagoon city.