‘Angel’ flies into St. Mark’s Square as part of Venice Carnival

Huge crowds gathered in St. Mark's Square in Venice on Sunday to watch one of the highlights of the Italian city's carnival: The Flight of the Angel.

The event includes a beauty pageant winner, dressed in carnival costume, descending from the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica.

During the 18 days of the carnival, the lagoon city fills with thousands of tourists from across Italy and the world.

Many don masks and elaborate costumes to join in with the many events taking place across town.

At noon St. Mark's Square was packed, waiting for this year's angel—Claudia Marchiori, a 22-year-old student at Venice's Academy of Fine Arts—to fly down the wire.

The ceremony used to be called "The Flight of the Turk" and dates back to five centuries ago. Back then, a young Turkish acrobat walked a tightrope stretched from a ship, anchored at the pier of St. Mark's Square, all the way to the top of the St. Mark's bell tower.

With the Doge of Venice looking on and against a brilliant blue sky the Angel, dressed in a sumptuous gown, elegantly descended the rope from the Bell Tower, scattering confetti onto the crowds waiting below.

She waved and smiled to the crowds, to the sound of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," before making a safe landing next to the Doge.

"Had it been me I would have called for help! It's very impressive, really. I hope these traditions will be kept alive forever," said Italian visitor Angelo Coppola, admiring the spectacle.

The Carnevale di Venezia is among the oldest carnivals in the world.

Carnival madness first began centuries ago as a period of excess before the rigors of Lent, the 40 days of fasting that traditionally precede Easter.

Venetians could then hide their identities behind masks and do as they pleased. It was a pressure valve to ease class tensions, allowing the poor, for a brief and controlled period, to break Venice's rigid, oligarchical social order.

Masked balls are held in ancient Venetian palaces while concerts and gondola parades are organized in the piazzas and canals. The use of masks in Venice has several historic origins. In the 18th century masks were used by noblemen in order to keep anonymity whilst voting on council matters.

"There is something magical about it. It's something magical that you can't describe; you have to feel it. You need to live it and take part in it. We've had the great privilege of participating in the parade and it's a real luxury," said Spanish visitor Maile Rebella.

The Carnival was first held in Venice in the 11th century and consisted of over two months of revelry, until it fell into decline during the 18th century.

It was revived in 1979 with great success and nowadays it is a good excuse to don a mask and costume, parade around the city and enjoy the live music in the main squares of the city.

It has also boosted tourism in what used to be a rather lean period between Christmas and Easter. — Reuters