A Glimpse at the History of Venetian Masks
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Creator's Key Takeaways
this is so people of respect could go out and do things that were not respectful go to the casino sort of the brothel be out with somebody you're not supposed to be with
the modern-day tradition of all these over-the-top masks really was co-opted from the crazy students of Venice back in the 1970s
tourists when they come to Venice they'll go into these shops and they'll enjoy picking up a souvenir that actually has a historic foundation
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Any visit to Venice is filled with ornately painted masks. These are more than just colorful souvenirs — they come with a story. Throughout the centuries, these masks have always been a big part of Carnevale celebrations, the weeks-long Mardi Gras festivities leading up to Lent — and high-class people have traditionally put them on to hide their faces while they are out and about, doing less-than-respectable things. Join me now at a mask shop in the heart of Venice for a peek at the history of these masks — from the 17th century, when doctors used them to treat victims of the plague, all the way to the 1970s, when local hippies incorporated them into their wild outfits. __ I’m in here in Venice to do some guidebook research. If you’re heading this way too, you can pick up the latest edition of my guidebook at https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/venice-guidebook. Happy travels!