St. Mark’s Square will
be turned into a Renaissance garden during this year’s carnival, organizers
recently announced. Nearly 4,000 plants will be laid out to from a formal
garden during the festivities, running February 14 to 24.
Only those wearing the
traditional carnival masks will have access to the garden’s plants, hedges and
walkways on weekends. Carnival celebrations will include processions, concerts,
art shows, food displays and plays.
Organizers are expecting some one million visitors for
carnival. Nonetheless, Venice officials hope a greener St. Mark’s Square will
help increase tourism this year, despite the economic crisis. ‘We’ve got a hard
year ahead of us and authorities have to work together to do everything to help
out what is the most important industry of our region-tourism’, said mayor
Massimo Cacciari.
