Venice Photos -- National Geographic's Ultimate City Guides

Costumed Carnevale Participants
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Costumed Carnevale participants enjoy a mid-afternoon hot chocolate break.
Café Florian
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
For those with costumes to show off, the famous coffeehouse, Café Florian, is the place to go.
Piazza San Marco at Night
Photograph by Jim Richardson
Carnevale revelers bring mystery and magic to Piazza San Marco late at night.
Carnevale Ball
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Well-heeled costumed revelers attend a ball. Tickets can cost several hundred dollars.
Short-Order Restaurant Cooks
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Even short-order restaurant cooks get into the Carnevale spirit.
Carnevale Makeup
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
During Carnevale time, makeup is not just for the women and moustaches can be the paste-on variety.
Traditional Carnevale Accessories
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Powdered wigs, masks, and ruffled finery are traditional Carnevale get-up elements.
Inventive Carnevale Costumes
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Carnevale costumes can be oddly inventive and take months to craft.
Carnevale Participants
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Not all Carnevale participants are elegantly attired.
Carnevale Costumes
Photograph by Theo Westenberger
Carnevale costumes range from elegant to garish to inventively lighthearted.