1951-01-20 — Page 3

CARNIVAL

IN VENICE

ONCE A YEAR

ful procession. Used annually only on this one oc- casion, the bissones are lavish duplicates of those of the Fourteenth Century.

A flotilla of gendolas swasps down the Grand Canal during Venice's annual water carnival, forming a magnificent procession recalling past glories in the city's history. There are 500 gandollars in "the hundred islands." Most participate in parade..

the picturesque gondollers of costumes are similar to those worn in the 1800s Venico take the day off and whoop it up with when Venice was world-famous as a trading centre, the world's biggest water cornival. Reflecting past To the 500,000 spectators lining the banks, the scene glory, hundreds of gondolas parade down the Grand is a page from history. Canal over the exact route used by the Dogi-the princely rulers-aix centuries ago.

The parade goes slowly and quietly, for motor- driven boats are expressly forbidden in the pageant, The water vehicles have changed little and the Decorated gondolas, called bissones, lead the colour.

After the stately regatta comes the gondolfers' event, Strong-armed oarsmen race their clock craft down the waterway. There are prizes for the vic torious gondoliers.

AN ORNATE bissone, a decorated gondola with hand-carved figureheads and cession. Exact duplicates of the floating "limousines" used by the Dogi in the brightly painted-hull,"gets underway to take its place at the head of the pro- Fourteenth Century, the bissones are brought out once a year for the carnival.

DRESSED in the colourful costume of medieval Venice, a gondolier works the short car on & bissone: Riding the stern is a beautifully-carved figure, of Neptune, armed with trident.

ROWING Wìh all their strength, a team of bursimen drive their shallow water flat-bottom working vehicles are used. The gondoller in the stern has taken taxi down the Grand Canal during the gondoin race. In this event, only the off his shoes to prevent slipping. Spectators along the course étiser favourites.

YOUTH joins the pageant as two future gondoliera guide email bissone away from fis dock, Their passenger's dress coples those worn by daughters of Faristocraie, in ancient Vesico,