Venezia ed il carnevale

The origins of Carnival go back a very long way.

Already at the turn of the first millennium they were talking about public entertainment when the word Carnival was mentioned for the first time.

More than likely instituted by the Venetian nobility to provide the people with a short period of merry-making where they could forget their wearying existence and celebrate with the entire city.

Today, the Venice Carnival engenders a great and spectacular atmosphere that attracts the thousands of tourists from all over the world ready to take part in the event and relive Venice's history with the city.

The days that are traditionally the most important in the Venetian Carnival are Fat Thursday and Shrove Tuesday.

(liberally taken from Wikipedia)