No one had an identity. During carnival, the campi , St. Mark's thronged with people dancing, singing, carousing and playing games. And it still does today. Since 1980, the masks have again reappeared in Venice on a grand scale, and the 18th century garments and traditional costumes again mingle with other disguises. The old custom of giving balls and theatrical performances has been revived, along with an array of ancient Venetian games.
Carnival is alive again.
This year the official opening, held in the Piazza San Marco, is on Saturday the 14th of February with a Carnival preview on Friday. It runs for 10 days until Shrove Tuesday, when the bells of San Francesco della Vigna toll at midnight to mark the beginning of Lent. Visual Taste attended Carnival to see the colors, masks, beautiful costumes and research the street food. There were people from Milan to Tokyo staying at our hotel that came for Carnival. We found that while putting on a mask you might lose your identity, but you certainly don't lose your appetite.