It is in 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 history of Venice. They 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 grand buildings.

The Carnival is a unique catwalk on which vanity can be unashamedly displayed. Where just a simple cardboard mask isn’t 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. As the hours tick away, reality turns to fantasy until, in the early hours of the morning, exhausted, bed is the final destination!