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Masks-Carnevale 2014
Traghetto Molo, San Marco |
Carnevale, for
many who live in or around Venice, is a time when you either stay away from St. Mark's square
and the crowds that fill the city's only piazza or you wait to view the marvelous costumes and masks on an 'off day'.
This year the festivities
officially opened on Sunday February 23rd with the traditional Volo dell’angelo or Flight of the Angel.
It was reported that 105,000 people attended. I, intentionally, was not one of them.
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| A beautiful mask, Venice 2014 |
The origins of the Angel, interpreted in the 1500s by a Turkish
acrobat and known then as the Svolo del Turco,
now stars a selected damsel dressed in costume who, securely belted to a robust
pulley, slowly descends from the ledge of the bell tower, over the crowd, and
into the welcome arms of the honorary Doge awaiting her on stage at the far
end of the square. Over the centuries the Flight of the Turk became known as
the Flight of the Angel, until a tragic accident in the mid-1700s caused the
human Angel to be replaced by a Colombina
(dove) carved from wood. La Colombina remained the
opening Carnevale attraction until recent years. In fact, the first few Volos I attended in the late 1980s, and
if my memory is correct into the 1990s, were indeed la Colombina. Many Venetians still refer to the opening
Carnevale ceremony as il Volo della Colombina. However, some years ago, thanks to
modern day safety techniques, the
more exciting descent of a ‘real’ Angelo has, once again, returned.
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| Court Jester |
However, as I stated, I stayed away and instead chose, as I've
done for more years than I can remember, to take a walk through Venice's back alleyways on Monday, a quieter Carnevale day. Of course, I ended up in St. Mark's square-- which around our home is also known as my husband's office.
While waiting for my dear
husband to mettere la barca da notte (put the gondola away for the night), I snapped these photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
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| My favorite this year. |
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