"CITY OF LOVE" VENICE WELCOMES 80,000 TOURISTS BACK
With the number of Covid-19 infections decreasing in recent weeks, Italian authorities have decided to re-organize the Venice Carnival 2022. Previously, due to Covid-19, the Venice Carnival 2020 took place only with local people and the Venice Carnival 2021 was "absent". Italy hopes that the Venice Carnival 2022 will contribute to promoting the tourism recovery momentum that is showing more positive signs.
According to the schedule, Venice Carnival 2022 with the theme "Remember the Future" will last from February 12 to March 1 on a smaller scale, to avoid forming huge crowds to avoid the risk of spreading Covid-19 with the appearance of the new variant Omicron. Before Venice Carnival 2022, Italy abolished the regulation of wearing masks when going out, but the city of Venice still requires residents and tourists to wear masks in crowded areas.
The Son-et-lumiere (nighttime entertainment program using light and sound effects) performance called "Venezia lux futura" took place on the Grand Canal on the evening of February 13, officially opening the Venice Carnival 2022. (Photo: ANSA)
Right in the first two days of activation with the "Preview" weekend (the "preview" program on the weekend of February 12-13), although the scale was reduced compared to 2019, Venice Carnival 2022 still created a "tourism explosion" with more than 100,000 visitors registering to attend.
Among the approximately 55,000 tourists who flocked to Venice on February 13 alone, staying overnight in the "city of Love" to enjoy Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day February 14), there are about 25,000 foreign tourists. The largest number are French tourists (23.58%). Next are British tourists (12.97%), Spanish tourists (12.89%) and German tourists (7.24%)...
The splendid Venice Carnival 2022 makes its enchanting mark with the Son-et-lumiere (nighttime entertainment program, using light and sound effects) performance called "Venezia lux futura" (Luxurious Venice Future) on the Grand Canal (the canal that creates the famous S-shaped traffic route, taking visitors to most of Venice's tourist attractions).
Despite the scale-down, the spectacular main performances will continue throughout the 2022 Venice Carnival, and organizers hope to attract even more visitors. Especially when the event reaches its vibrant climax on March 1 - the end of the 2022 Venice Carnival.
Tourists dressed as 18th-century lords and ladies and wearing Venetian masks arrive at the Venice Carnival 2022 from February 12. (Photo: Xinhua)
“It’s a little different because it’s quieter, there aren’t as many festivals as before. But we’ll have our own parties and festivals so it’ll still be fun,” Tylaz.net quoted tourist Fiona Spagnuolo as saying.
“For me, carnival costumes like this are a symbol of rebirth. By wearing this costume, I hope to contribute to bringing a small carnival here, as well as to admire many spectacular masked performances at the Venice Carnival 2022” - male tourist Matteo from Vicenza expressed.
EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT FEELING WITH VENICE CARNIVAL
The Venice Carnival has a long history dating back to 1162. It is held during the last “relaxed” period before Lent – the 40 days before Easter, traditionally. When attending the Venice Carnival, people have a strange sense of anonymity to “let loose” to the fullest, they dress up in the splendid costumes of 18th-century lords and ladies and hide their faces under the ghostly Venetian masks.
The main mark that makes up the essence of Venice Carnival is said to be the traditional Venetian masks. (Photo: IANS)
Venice Carnival creates a mesmerizing appeal from the scenes of "wild" lavish parties, the splendid and jubilant balls, to the endless colorful parades, the grand historical reenactments and many "crazy" and hilarious entertainments... In particular, the iconic setting of Venice creates the most magical setting for the huge crowds to "travel back in time" in a very different way.
But the main mark that makes the essence of Venice Carnival that perhaps no other carnival in the world has, is the traditional Venetian masks. Venetian masks are handmade, have complex designs, decorated in Baroque style, bright colors or luxurious gold and silver.
Most of the free entertainment takes place in St. Mark's Square - the heart of the Venice Carnival. (Photo: carnivaland.net)
The most famous is the Bauta mask that covers most of the face, leaving only the mouth and chin exposed for eating and talking. Some other popular types are the Columbia mask that only covers the eyes, the Plague Doctor mask with a strangely long nose, the plain white Volto mask that covers the entire face and is often paired with a black hood to add to the mysterious look...
Experiencing the Venice Carnival is something that every tourist probably wants to have at least once in their life, especially the feeling of becoming “anonymous” in the midst of a brilliant and passionate crowd. At that time, everyone can engage in the “craziest” games without worrying about being discriminated against, even… wearing nothing, as long as they only wear a mask covering their face as required by regulations.
