Tens of thousands kick off Venice Carnival
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Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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Costumed revellers arrive at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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The "corteo delle Marie" (Mary's procession) crosses St. Mark square during the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
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Marta Finotto (center), a student at Venice's University, dressed in a traditional costume, poses with other traditional masks after descending from the bell tower into St. Mark square, during the "Angel's flight", one of the highlights of the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
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A costumed reveller poses at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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A costumed reveller poses near gondolas during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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Moroccan-born exotic dancer Karima El-Mahroug, known as Ruby, at the centre of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial for underage sex, walks at Mark's square with partner Luca Risso during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The verdict in former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial for underage sex will not come before the Feb general elections. -- PHOTO : AFP
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A woman dressed in a costume poses at the Danieli hotel in Venice during the Venice Carnival Feb 2, 2013. Picture taken Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A woman dressed in a costume poses at the Danieli hotel in Venice during the Venice Carnival Feb 2, 2013. Picture taken Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A couple dressed in traditional costumes sits in a gondola boat during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A woman dressed in traditional costume looks on during the Venetian Carnival in Saint Mark's square in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A woman dressed in traditional costume looks on during the Venetian Carnival in Saint Mark's square in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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The traditional Columbine descends from Saint Mark's bell tower on an iron cable during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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People wear traditional masks as they parade in St. Mark square on the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
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Costumed revellers pose at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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A costumed reveller poses at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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Costumed revellers pose near St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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Costumed revellers pose at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
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A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
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A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
Costumed revellers arrive at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
The "corteo delle Marie" (Mary's procession) crosses St. Mark square during the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
Marta Finotto (center), a student at Venice's University, dressed in a traditional costume, poses with other traditional masks after descending from the bell tower into St. Mark square, during the "Angel's flight", one of the highlights of the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
A costumed reveller poses at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
A costumed reveller poses near gondolas during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
Moroccan-born exotic dancer Karima El-Mahroug, known as Ruby, at the centre of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial for underage sex, walks at Mark's square with partner Luca Risso during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The verdict in former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial for underage sex will not come before the Feb general elections. -- PHOTO : AFP
A woman dressed in a costume poses at the Danieli hotel in Venice during the Venice Carnival Feb 2, 2013. Picture taken Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A woman dressed in a costume poses at the Danieli hotel in Venice during the Venice Carnival Feb 2, 2013. Picture taken Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A couple dressed in traditional costumes sits in a gondola boat during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A woman dressed in traditional costume looks on during the Venetian Carnival in Saint Mark's square in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A woman dressed in traditional costume looks on during the Venetian Carnival in Saint Mark's square in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
The traditional Columbine descends from Saint Mark's bell tower on an iron cable during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
People wear traditional masks as they parade in St. Mark square on the opening day of the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. Tens of thousands of visitors come every day to Venice during the Carnival celebrations, that will go on until Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AP
Costumed revellers pose at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
A costumed reveller poses at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
Costumed revellers pose near St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
Costumed revellers pose at St Mark's square during the carnival on Feb 3, 2013 in Venice. The 2013 edition of the Venice carnival is untitled " Live in Colour" and runs from Jan 26 to Feb 12. -- PHOTO : AFP
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice Feb 3, 2013. -- PHOTO : REUTERS
VENICE (AFP) - Some 70,000 revellers, many wearing elaborate costumes and masks, thronged Venice's St Mark's Square on Sunday to watch the traditional "flight of the angel," a highlight of the annual Carnival.
Marta Finotto, a 20-year-old Venetian student, had the honour of performing the stunt, gliding on a harness from the 99-metre (325-foot) belltower of Saint Mark's Basilica to a stage below, wearing a black top hat and a red gown with matching boots.
The centuries-old Venice Carnival, rooted in Christian festivities ahead of the fasting period of Lent, attracts hordes of foreign and Italian tourists to its masked balls and theatrical performances.
Nadia, a visitor in her 40s from the northeastern Italian town of Biella, said the revelry helps people to forget Italy's financial crisis, at least for a while. "Once a year we forget everything, we have fun, otherwise life has no meaning," she told AFP-TV.
