'Flight of the Angel' lights up Venice
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E-mail CNTV, February 5, 2013
It's a festive time around the world -- While Chinese prepare for Spring Festival, it's carnival time in Venice. Visitors in the city's Saint Mark's Square witnessed the "Flight of the Angel" on Sunday, in which a woman dressed in a costume descends from the bell tower of Saint Mark's Basilica.
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A group of people dressed in costume poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venice Carnival 2013 on February 4, 2013 in Venice, Italy. |
The theme for the 2013 carnival was "Live In Color", and visitors were keen to put on their masks and join in the festivities.
The carnival attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe to the city every year.
Italian tourist Elisabetta said, "We've come from Turin to see the carnival. It's the first time we come here, and we're very happy."
Against a brilliant blue sky, the red and black angel descended the rope from the Bell Tower, to the joyous shouts from the crowd gathered below. She waved one long black-gloved hand, as heavenly music accompanied her descent.
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Marta Finotto as she was crowned 'Maria of Venice Carnival' performs as the traditional angel to officially open the Carnival of Venice 2013 at the Piazza San Marco, in Venice, Italy, 03 February 2013. |
Italian tourist Anna Maria said, "It's beautiful - it's a historic, romantic tradition, full of color and atmosphere. It's really fantastic."
Carnival madness first began centuries ago as a period of excess before the rigors of lent, the 40 days of fasting that traditionally precede Easter. Masked balls were held in ancient palaces, while concerts and gondola parades were organized in the piazzas and canals. It was aimed to ease class tensions, allowing the poor to break Venice's rigid social order, even if only for a brief and controlled period.
The carnival ends on February 12th, the beginning of Lent, and signals the start of Venice's tourist season, which runs through to the autumn.
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