(15 Feb 2020) Revellers in elaborate costumes milled about St Mark's Square in Venice on Saturday as the city celebrated its traditional parade of the 12 Marias.
But the festive atmosphere was overshadowed by concerns over the outbreak of a new virus and global warming.
Record high water in November badly damaged the city raising concerns about how to protect it from rising seas and freak weather patterns brought on my climate change.
Crowds gathered to watch "Festa delle Marie" when the 12 Marias parade through the streets and canals of Venice to St Mark's Square.
The tradition of this parade goes back centuries when Venice was a world power and the Venetian Doge ruled from the Ducal Palace.
Then 12 Venetian girls from humble backgrounds were chosen to take part in the parade and at the end the Doge gave them jewels for their bridal dowry.
Alessia Lavuri, who played the role of one of the Marias, said she hoped to help bring "a lot of joy and lightheartedness" which had been sapped by flooding in the city.
The Venetian Carnival is a public party lasting for weeks that leads into the Roman Catholic period of Lent.
Participant Vincenzo Gurnari, from Milan, said he put aside his fears of the new virus which has alerted the world to come to the festival, saying "we have to have courage and not stay at home."
Carnival began in Venice in the 11th century and the Venetians extended the period to roughly two months of festivities.
Over the centuries the Venetian carnival attracted nobility from around Europe allowing them to participate in all sorts of fun - both licit and illicit.
Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Duchesses could go to lavish masked balls, extravagant banquets, and the city's brothels and gambling dens allowed for some extra entertainment.
The key to the Venice Carnival though has always been the street - where social divisions were erased.
Young and old, rich and poor paraded through the streets in costume enjoying in the festivities.
This year the Venice Carnival runs from the 8th to the 25th of February.
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