Historical Carnival of Venice
International Association for the Carnival of Venice
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COSTUMES

From always the Venice Carnival is unique for its beauty and the refined costumes.
Thousands of people run every year through "calle" and "campielli" for immortalizing with their cameras the magic evoked from these unique, fleeting apparitions.
Two parallel currents of taste, share out the stage of the lagoon city, transforming it into a rutilant play of colours and fantasy: the allegoric carnival-costumes, made mostly for the "square", evoke mystery and ambiguity. Asexual faces hidden from white masks leave to gleam through bright personality only by malicious glaces in contrast with the statuesque pose taken directly from the theatre world. Satins, voiles, sequins, metals, every time mixed in harmonious creations that amaze and facinate with their beauty every one who has the luck to meet them: neither the most unprepared tourist nor the professional photographer will be able to resist the temptation to stop the image in that fleeting moment.
On the contrary who prefers taking inspiration from the historical costumes, will have lots of options: followers of the big Venetian tradition of the eighteen century, we can find again the precious clothes that have nothing to envy to the original ones. There are present all the historical times and characters, from Marco Polo to Casanova, from the Sun-King to Mary-Antoniette, till the Belle Epoque splendour, passing through the opulence of the XIX century: silks and velvets, brocades and damasks, cut and sewed very skilfully, made precious from lace and embroideries, shown with a sure elegance and coquetry that, as in the past time, become seduction instruments. The Carnival of the "Nobles" and "Ladies" has nevertheless its roles and a unique ceremonial: the headquarters, the famous Caffè Florian in S. Marco square, is the point of meeting for all the rendez-vous of the day and from where leaving for participating in all the events of the carnival Venice.
From the traditional "chocolate", to the concerts, to the dancing parties in the most beautiful city palaces, will see protagonists these magnificent carnival-costumes for a Carnival less "public", but where certainly the masks will be inserted in a special old times atmosphere.
So, we have just to plunge into this whirl of playful "madness" and when dressed a carnival-costume just starting the Party!