And yet this is not the Venice that you may get acquainted with. It went over many architectural waves and gathered many different styles. Today it is seen quite clear that Venice is the place of art in all its possible and impossible displays and its marvellous architecture serve as one beautiful atmospheric decoration to the lives that all locals lead. People already live on streets with festive moods. Indeed, there you can meet all nations in their peculiarities as if visiting a fancy-dress ball. Many coats of gray, cyan or red silk sway in narrow streets and flash among masks and fanciful head covers in every nook and on every bridge. Nowhere else you can come across such abundance and profusion of carnival. Undoubtedly, Venice is the place for a three-hundred-and-sixty-five days masquerade atmosphere with festivals twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. This is the city without nights or rather the city of sleepless nights which is why you should better not underestimate an opportunity of having rooms in the city instead of hotels far away from the shores.
Another peculiar detail make us believe that the Venice is without exaggeration might be called the city of masquerade - the masks, the ones which might be taken on all the time daily and nightly. From the first Sunday in October up to Christmas and from the sixth of January till first day of abstinence, in the day of the St. Mark, Ascension, doge election, other officials election every venetian has the right of putting a mask on. These days all theatres are open to general public and that festive lasts for six month or even more. All people starting with dodge and ending with servant wear masks. Behind that disguise everyone can speak up and say what they want freely. They used to perform their duties, defend their rights at court, buy some fish, pay visits and lead normal life in disguise. Behind the mask one can act freer than usually, get to know neighbours and all the people around closer without shy and do things without fear of being criticized or disapproved. Mask, candle and mirror were integral part of every Venetian of the XVIII century. To these days that citizens' tradition survived in minds of humanity of our planet who correctly attach those treats to purely Venice and venetians and no one else.
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