Carnival in Venice: a holiday of mystery and charm
If the rhythms of a big city do not attract much and increasingly want to dissolve in the atmosphere of mysterious romance, breathe in the full smell of solemn grace, evoke a light breeze, if the soul asks for fairy tales, then welcome to the city where dreams come true. Welcome to Venice!
The history of the formation of this city deserves a separate conversation. In short, I will say only that it arose as a result of raids on the inhabitants. The latter fled, or rather sailed away, to nearby islands, gradually settling there and transporting their families. Subsequently, the islands were connected by canals and bridges. Thus, a small “state” was created.
Venice is amazing and unique in that it is completely built on water, and to be exact – on the Adriatic Sea. Everywhere you look, there's water. It is the only city in the world where there are no cars, buses, subways, or even bicycles. And the role of taxi drivers is performed by gondoliers, majestically controlling beautiful gondolas - such huge boats, sliding through the water. Such pleasure is not cheap. So most people prefer to move on cozy river trams.
Venice has very narrow, completely unpredictable streets, walking along which you never know where you will be in the next moment. They seem to be imbued with unsolved secrets and can tell a lot about the times of the Inquisition, about the meetings of a nobleman with a poor Venetian, as well as about what history mysteriously keeps silent. And it is on these streets that grandiose carnival processions are carried out.
What do you know about Carnival in Venice? The famous Venetian Carnival? Oh. This is an amazing event that many people look forward to. This year it starts on February 26 and will march through Venice until March 8 - as usual, exactly 10 days. Each year has its own name. “Sensation” is the motto of this year, which means “feelings and sensations”. Each of the districts of the city (and there are six of them: Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, San Marco and Santa Cruz) will be given by feeling.
During the carnival, the city is festively decorated and the streets are flooded with jugglers, mimes, acrobats, snake charmers, all sorts of fairy-tale characters, court ladies and gentlemen ... It all begins with a theatrical performance in Piazza San Marco, then a multicolored fireworks display and the crowd retreat together, turning into a solemn procession. They don't forget the kids. There are many shows for them in different places. If you are a lover of palace luxury, great! You are looking forward to the truly royal masquerade balls, at which Madame Pompadour herself once shone.
Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Venice to play one big and exciting game called Carnival. There are no rules except one: dance, sing and have fun. Easily reincarnate like a magician: today - an elderly, white-haired señor, tomorrow - a playful court lady. Who has the imagination? But it is worth remembering that the Venetian carnival is very different from, say, Brazilian. If Brazil sounds crazy rhythms Latino and everywhere reigns unrestrained optimism and bravado, and costumes please the eye riot of colors, in Venice is more restrained and calm.
If it is a mask, it is on the whole face, if the suit, it is, for the most part, hiding the figure. Movements and rhythms are slow, smooth and solemn, like Venice itself. The traditional costume is considered to be a painted papier-mache mask (and sometimes leather or porcelain), a long cloak in the floor and a triangular hat. It's a suit like the little town you came to visit, watching what's happening out of the windows, the slits for the eyes. And, by the way, I advise you to look out, because there are thieves everywhere who, under the guise of a charming stranger, can be stripped to the thread. Prices during the carnival are quite high. You don’t just pay for the air. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself culturally robbed by the end of the holiday.
Sad to say, Venice is a dying city. Every year, with solemn mournful silence, she sinks deeper into the water. Attractions are gradually collapsing from high humidity, and the city slowly comes into desolation, which, I must say, does not spoil it at all, but on the contrary - adds a certain charm.
If you've never been to Venice before, hurry up, because one day she might drown without promising to return.
Marina Guryanova
Photo from http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/1915361/post94463937/