Brief reminder of Part 1 (without mistake )
During Mardi Gras, thousands of tourists flock to the city of Venice for its famous and colourful carnival. The sumptuous costumes are, in principle, inspired by the Renaissance and the masks are extravagant.
The Carnival of Venice has exist over two thousand years or so. In ancient times, it was customary for masters to become slaves and slaves to become their masters for five days of the year. The Venice Carnival is certainly the most famous one, which has existed since the 11th century and originaly lasted more than six months. It was bamned in 1797 because some people used their masks to commeat crimes. It was only reintroduced in 1970.
But let ' s leave the carnival behind and wander through the alleyways. We discover narow and tortous streets, all very commercial, which span small canals via small bridges here and there. With the omnipresent water, the city seem to be bath in a luminosity of multicoloured hues with iridescent reflections, in a more or less enveloping mist created by the lagoon.
There are some 400 gondoliers in Venice, all dressed in a white navy blue striped jumper and the famous straw hat with ribons. Close to Venice, two islands are worth visiting : Murano and Burano. Murano is one of the largest islands in the lagoon. It is famous for its glass industry which dates back to the 11th century. Burano, a small fishing village, is known for its fine lace. It is also the island of colourful houses. The facades are a magnificent patchwork of colours.
How not to be dassled and seduced by this fascinating city ! |
