Venetian Masks: Tradition and History

Author: Samantha Singh

Back in the 13th Century, Venice was greater than just a small metropolis in Italy. It was an important part of Italy and was known by the title of the Venetian Republic. This Republic was small, with inhabitants within the region of approximately 150,000 people. Nonetheless, the Republic had a very profitable trade, which was ship constructing, and was able to produce one battleship in as little as thirty days. This was a really fast turnaround, made possible by the reality that the shipyards employed 15,000 of the native residents, a staggering ten per cent of the state's general population. Along with the shipyards, the Venetian Republic required workforces in all different facets of daily life. The Republic was a nicely oiled machine which functioned easily and well and this meant that the residents of the Venetian Republic were wealthy and successful. This wealth, luxury and extravagance, coupled with the implausible factor about the state, made the Republic very interesting to the relaxation of the world.

It was this wealth that was to lead to the custom of the Venetian masks. Over time, the residents of the Venetian Republic began to understand that in the event that they hid their identification they were able to carry out their daily lives in secrecy and without worry of retribution. With a lot personal wealth inside the state, people often discovered themselves making offers and agreements with different residents outside the eyes of the law. With the inhabitants, as small as a result of it was, many needed to hold out such offers as these without different people figuring out their enterprise, and so the carrying of a masks grew to develop into popular fashion.

As soon as people started to see others sporting masks, it became apparent that they could garner additional benefits. When sporting a mask your identification is hidden and so your social standing would not be recognized by others. This allowed servants and enterprise homeowners to be handled equally and prevented any type of inequality or prejudice. It additionally allowed all of the residents of the Republic to have their say on points which had been essential to them, letting them keep nameless inside the process. This was mutually useful to each of the residents and officers visiting the city, who had been able to get hold of trustworthy options to their questions from a full spectrum of residents. Quickly, all the metropolis's residents had been sporting masks to go about their day by day lives.

This mutual benefit for all carrying venetian masks did not last too long though. It didn't take much time for people to start to profit from the concealment of their id and to profit from their anonymity. Understanding that there were to be no repercussions for their actions, as nobody might presumably be identified, the society started to behave more lavishly and without fear. As a busy metropolis with travellers and business visitors descending upon them every single day, sexual promiscuity turned widespread and enjoyment was recognized to be occurring all via the day and the night time, all over the place in the city. In reality, enjoyment was even occurring in convents and was undertaken by men, women and even children. Homosexuality was starting to unfold throughout the Republic and was not condemned there as it was in the rest of the country. Women had been capable of flaunting their sexuality in revealing clothes and engaged in promiscuous behaviour. Even people who had taken religious vows, just like monks and nuns, had been performing similar actions as the rest of the population, carrying trendy outfits, enjoying and prostituting themselves.



The capital of Italy, Rome, knew of the activities which have been occurring inside the Venetian Republic nevertheless elected to ignore them as long as the Republic was continuing to make regular and substantial financial deposits. However, a decision was finally reached to ban the wearing of masks almost all the 12 months, solely allowing it in a three month period from the twenty sixth December onwards. Over time this has been lessened and is now more usually related to week long festivities typically referred to as Carnevale, or Mardi Gras.Hi I'm a historical researcher who has spent many years in Venice. I really love venetian masks, especially during the Venice Carnival.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/venetian-mask-tradition-and-history-3585876.html
Brought to you by DirectFromVenice.com

About the Author

Hi I'm a historical researcher who has spent many years in Venice. I really love venetian masks, especially during the Venice Carnival.

Venice - Italy

Author: Hannah Rollmaker

Situated on the north side of Italy, and having a population of approximately 271,500, the city of Venice is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Sometimes it is referred to as City of Water and sometimes as City of Light.

Geographically the city itself is divided into six divisions which are named as Cannaregio, Castello, Dosoduro, San Marco, San Polo and Santa Croce.

Inside Venice almost all the buildings are made on the bases of solid wood because of the sinking factor of Venice.

The climatic conditions are the same as expected in Italy. The city has moderate temperature ranges even during the peak seasons of winters and summers. The coldest months of the city starts from November and remains until the middle of February. The temperature variations are between 0 and -5 degrees. Relatively nights are much cooler. Venice receives most of the rainfall during this season. The peak seasons for summers are from June to August and the temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees.

Most of the transportation means inside Venice used to be boats but now these boats are replaced by water boats which are now the most common means of transportation for the people of Venice.

The Italian government has constructed a new airport in Venice named as Marco Polo International Airport and it has been named after the famous Marco Polo of Venice.

Cars cannot be used inside Venice as the city is full of water, although some reports suggest that Venice has stopped sinking, still people of Venice prefer these water buses for traveling. Also as there is water in the city so it is very dangerous to build roads for cars.

The city of Venice hosts many cultural festivals out of which most famous and highly anticipated is the Carnival of Venice. It comes one time in a year and is basically a dance and gathering of people. The people contributing in the carnival of Venice wear traditional masks.

Venice is considered a strong city regarding culture, music and entertainment. As the city's night life is a prominent one among the different cities of Italy. Venice basically is considered as the starting or birth place of music. Music composition and music publication started from Venice by a person named Ottaviano Petrucci. He started using the necessary equipment as soon it was invented, which afterwards became a well known musical organization which attracted most of the musicians from central Europe. Venice is also considered to be the inventor of many musical instruments.

Venice is basically a very complicated and compact city so there are not many parks and open grounds but as the city is very rich in history Venice has a number of museums which are mostly the destinations for tourists to visit. These museums display different areas and also focus on different eras of the years Venice experienced.

What ever the season, Venice will look stunning, spring, summer, autumn or winter. Enjoy yourselves, you may only get one chance!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/venice-italy-2368472.html
About the Author
Find your next Venice hotel here.

Tourism in Venice, Visit the City, Holiday and Traditions

Author: Martinapp

Venice is considered one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. The city of Venice really abounds with traditions and must-see places.

As first thing we have to highlight the famous Venice Carnival: it is a great feast, among the most ancient ones of the city, that after so many years, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to admire staying in the various Venice hotels. Another ancient tradition is the the Sensa Feast-day, it is celebrated in May during the period of the Ascension. During this day it is celebrated the symbolic wedding between Venice and the sea, to recall all the victims of the navy fleet.

Among the most important events, there is of course the Venice International Film Festival, that takes place every year in September and it is located at the Cinema Palace. Also the Historical Regatta is a feast that attracts a lot of tourists as well as the Redentore Feast-Day, which is organized on the third Sunday of July. Among the most important Venice musical events, we need to recall “Venice plays”. Every year the city turns itself into a romantic musical set full of sounds and magic. One venetian tradition is also the so-called Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics. The four involved cities (Genoa, Pisa, Amalfi and Venice) in turn organize various events to commemorate the historical events of Middle Age. Also on the 25th of April, public holiday in Italy for the Liberation of our country, it is twice holiday in Venice. In fact Venice celebrates also St. Marcus day, the patron saint of Venice. Regarding the tour and the offers for Venice, they are especially dedicated to visit the beauties of one of Italy’s most romantic cities. Let’s start from the Canal Grande, the famous waterway that all venetian people call “Il Canalazzo”.

After this, there are many bridges to see, all well-known and famous. These are for example the Academia Bridge, the “Ponte degli Scalzi” (the Bridge of the Barefoot), the Rialto’s Bridge, the Constitution Bridge, inaugurated in September 2008. In the tourist tour a nice walk on the beautiful St. Marcus Square can’t miss, this is the only square of the city. The St. Marcus Basilica and its bell tower are wonderful and very suggestive. The bell tower is the highest of Venice, almost 97 meters. At the top of the bell tower, people can admire the famous statue of the Archangel Gabriel, famous for its height, almost 3 meters. The visual effect of the statue’s wings, which move in the wind, is really magic.

Another symbol of the city of Venice is the famous Clock tower, recently restored, that with its tolls beats the hours thanks to the two giants known as the so-called “two Moors”, they became black because of all the signs of time, so now they look older and aged.

An obligated visit is at the Giudecca island, especially known for its really original fishbone shape. Here, where we can find and book where to sleep in a Venice hotel, we can also visit the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Redentore Basilica. Another obligated step is also the other three islands, all of them of a exceptional beauty. We start from the island of Burano, which is famous thanks to the lace manufacture, laces are still designed according to an ancient technique coming from the 16th century; then the island of Murano, very famous for the glass manufacture. Being able to admire with your own eyes these inimitable manufacturing techniques that can create this unique objects is a real fairy tale. In the end you have to visit the island of Torcello, that every year attracts thousands of tourists.

Back to Venice, you should take a walk in the middle of the square, have a coffee in one of the numerous cafés under the porticoes and obviously take a trip on a gondola, these things can complete a perfect day spent in Venice.

By Michele De Capitani with support from hôtels venise for any information, please visit hotel centre de venise or for more info visit hotel a venise italie .

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tourism-in-venice-visit-the-city-holiday-and-traditions-765943.html
About the Author

Webwriter of Prima Posizione Srl.