By Venice tradition, elaborately costumed Carnival-goers stroll through the canal-laced city showing off their finery, finished with hand-painted masks.

It's said that the Carnival of Venice was started from a victory of the 'Serenissima Repubblica' against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico di Treven in the year 1162. In the honour of this victory, the people started to dance and make reunions in San Marco Square.

Masks have always been an important feature of the Venetian carnival. Traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano (St Stephen's Day, December 26) and the start of the carnival season at midnight of Shrove Tuesday.

Venetian masks can be made of leather, porcelain or using the original glass technique. The original masks were rather simple in design, decoration, and often had a symbolic and practical function.

Nowadays, most Italian masks are made with the application of gesso and gold leaf and are hand-painted using natural feathers and gems to decorate

The pre-Lenten festival opened Saturday with a two-hour show at the Cannaregio canal and continues through Feb. 9.

(Pics - Daily mail )

(Video -VOA)