VENICE CARNIVAL - FLIGHTS FROM THE BELL TOWER OF SAINT MARK

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Until 21th, February 2012 The 2012 Venice Carnival was inaugurated by the opening in Saint Mark's Square of the "Wine Fountain" stage machinery designed by the chief designer of La Scala of Milan, Angelo Lodi. The fountain, which will remain open until February 21, 2012, was created in honour of an old custom: taverners used to sell their products in Saint Mark's Square right in the shadow of the Bell Tower of Saint Mark to keep the valuable wine cool, which is the origin of the Venetian expression "ombra de vin" to indicate the capacity of a glass. The events of the Venice Carnival involve all the city's cultural institutions, museums, churches, galleries, libraries, archives, theatres, cinemas and universities with an intense schedule of performances, music and dance that will allow everyone, both residents and tourists, to experience the Carnival of Venice to the fullest.   The big news this year are the flights from the Bell Tower of Saint Mark, which have grown to three: in addition to the Angel on February 12th, two other "flights" will capture the grab the attention of the public in Saint Mark's Square. Evoking the tradition of the Renaissance stage machinery of the Serenissima, which made Turks, boats and even animals fly in the Square, this year there will be two more flights. The second, on February 19th (at noon) will be a marvellous, spectacular surprise (that's all they've told us), while the third, on February 21st (at 17:00) will launch the final evening of the event when a Winged Lion painted on scenery canvas will fly over the public in the Square and land on the stage of the Gran Teatro.