Europe News
Venice Carnival takes off with traditional "flight of the angel"
Feb 12, 2012, 14:31 GMT
Venice, Italy - A beauty queen on Sunday swung off St Mark's bell tower in Venice and swooped down onto the square below, in a traditional annual event marking the city's famous Carnival.
Clad in a red corseted costume, Giulia Selero was harnessed by safety cables as she performed the traditional 'flight of the angel.'
The noon-time drop from the 99-metre-high bell tower took place before thousands of people, who had gathered in St Mark's square despite icy conditions that have hit Venice and many parts of Italy.
This year's edition of the Carnival of Venice began on Saturday and ends on February 21. It includes masked balls, concerts and other revelry in various locations around the lagoon city.
This year's theme, 'Life is a theatre. It's time to get masked,' aims to celebrate Venice 'as the ancient capital of modern theatre,' organizers said.
Read more about Carnival
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