(17 Feb 2019) A boat depicting a giant sewer rat – known in Venice as the "pantegana" - led the annual Venice Carnival Water Parade on Sunday.
Hundreds of gondolas, operated by more than 800 rowers decked out in spectacular costumes, led the colourful parade through the city's famous canals.
Thousands of people from all over the world lined the banks of the canals to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
The parade was started by Venetians 10 years ago as an event dedicated to the locals, in contrast to the Flight of the Angel that comes towards the end of Carnival and attracts a more international crowd.
This year's Venice carnival runs from 16 February to 5 March, a public party lasting for weeks that leads up to the Roman Catholic period of Lent.
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