| It all started as a celebration of the war victory against | | | | through the canals, the same way they did thousand |
| Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162. Venetians went to | | | | years ago. |
| the streets (or better say canals) dressed in their | | | | The beauty and charm of Venice, especially as they |
| finest costumes, dancing and singing. The magnificent | | | | shine during the Carnival, make more understandable |
| party became a tradition that persisted for almost | | | | the unique beauty of the Venetian glass. Now famous |
| thousand years. | | | | all over the world, Venetian glass is the reflection of its |
| Every year, in February, Venice becomes one glorious | | | | source, product of combined history, tradition and |
| party. Brocade, silks, gold and feather costumes and | | | | uniquely Italian sense of style. Although many glass |
| famous Venetian masks parade in gondolas, to the | | | | artists are trying to copy Venetian glass, the best they |
| delight of tourists. Torches decorate canals at night | | | | can do is be influenced by it. |
| throwing long shadows on the water, music plays long | | | | Although Venetian glass makers keep and value |
| into the night. Spectacular costumes and magnificent | | | | tradition, the beauty of ancient glass-making techniques |
| Venetian glass jewelry decorate beautiful Venetians, | | | | attracts many contemporary artists, in Murano and all |
| and appear on pages of fashion magazines for | | | | over the world. Some of them use beads produced in |
| months. | | | | Murano, others study unique Murano techniques and |
| Italians really know how to party, but they also know | | | | infuse their own imprint into the old designs. One of the |
| how to dress. There is something special about Italian | | | | most recognized names is Archimede Seguso, a son |
| fashion. The colors, style, accessories, they all skillfully | | | | of Muranese glass artists and a partner in the Murano |
| combine to create a rare impression of good taste | | | | glass factory Barovier. |
| and impeccable style. But, it is with jewelry that Italians | | | | He founded his own glass factory in 1946, and |
| really shine. Famous Venetian glass jewelry survived | | | | became its principal master and design artist. Using |
| hundreds of years of changes in fashion and style and | | | | ancient techniques, he experimented and invented |
| it is still easily recognizable as uniquely Italian jewelry. | | | | many contemporary variations, like intensely colored |
| During the Carnival, one can see some magnificent | | | | glass called 'colori sovrapposte' and a variation of |
| antique creations of famous Murano glassmakers, and | | | | filigrana technique with his collection Spinati. He lived his |
| some beautiful contemporary pieces. | | | | whole life in Murano, where he died in 1999. He |
| Carnival of Venice is a perfect time to visit this ancient, | | | | influenced numerous Italian glass artists, who were |
| mysterious and spectacularly beautiful town. The | | | | inspired by Seguso's ability to combine tradition with |
| colors of costumes, ancient palaces, magnificent | | | | individual artistic vision. One of his students, Lino |
| churches and cathedrals, they all combine to create | | | | Tagliapietra, also Muranese, became a world-known |
| the impression that is uniquely Venetian. The old walls | | | | glass artist and his work is now part of many |
| breathe history, and the songs of gondolier echo | | | | museums all over the world. |