Venice carnival: Masked revellers celebrate city's festival
- Published
The carnival has been held for centuries
Revellers wearing elaborate masks and costumes have taken to the streets of Venice to open the city's centuries-old carnival officially.
The event is a public party leading into the Roman Catholic fasting month of Lent which begins on 18 February.
It opened at noon on Sunday with the Flight of the Angel ceremony, a theatrical tradition which takes place in St Mark's Square.
The celebrated carnival was first held in the 11th Century.
Visitors arrive wearing elaborate masks
Inside a Venice coffee shop on the carnival's first day
Revellers pose in St Mark's Square on Sunday
Visitor's are encouraged to wear imaginative costumes
Central Venice was packed with people
The carnival was once a favourite of European royalty
- Published31 January 2015
