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Welcome: The Venice Carnevale!

Published February 11th, 2020 - 06:48 GMT

Fantastic lights, incredible performances, and many other surprises; this is the beginning of the Carnevale in Venice 2020! 

There are few things in Italy as soaked in the aura of tradition and pageantry as the Carnevale di Venezia, a festival of make-believe that has unfolded for nearly a thousand years.

Throughout its many incarnations, the Carnival of Venice was a time of merriment and excess. It is a time to unwind before the somber 40 days of the Christian Lent that leads up to Easter.

The highlight of the opening weekend is the regatta when hundreds of boats and gondolas filled with dressed-up people take to the Grand Canal. 

Today the carnival’s two weeks are among the busiest in the city -- so much so that the authorities are considering putting a limit on the number of visitors. The festival ends 25 February.

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Masked revellers poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers cross a bridge during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers cross a bridge during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

A masked reveller looks on aboard a ferry on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

A masked reveller looks on aboard a ferry on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked reveller poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked reveller poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked reveller poses St Mark Square during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked reveller poses St Mark Square during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers pose in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers pose in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

A boat with masked revellers sails on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

A boat with masked revellers sails on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Masked revellers poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers cross a bridge during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A masked reveller looks on aboard a ferry on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses St Mark Square during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers pose in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A boat with masked revellers sails on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers cross a bridge during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers cross a bridge during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A masked reveller looks on aboard a ferry on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A masked reveller looks on aboard a ferry on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses St Mark Square during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked reveller poses St Mark Square during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers pose in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Masked revellers pose in Riva degli Schiavoni during the opening of the Venice Carnival on February 09, 2020. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A boat with masked revellers sails on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
A boat with masked revellers sails on the Grand Canal during the traditional regatta which officially opens the Carnival in Venice, on February 09, 2020. The Venice's carnival takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Artists performs during the opening day of the Venice Carnival on the Cannaregio Canal on February 8, 2020, in Venice. The carnival in Venice takes place until February 25, 2020. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

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