Hundreds of revellers dressed up in colourful outfits and wore elaborate masks to mark the official opening of the world-famous Venice Carnival.
Locals donned extravagant costumes to celebrate a day known as the ‘Flight of the Angel’ in St Mark’s Square in the Italian city.
Elisa Costantini was seen descending on a zip line from the bell tower into the packed square on Sunday afternoon.
The festival runs every year in the lead-up to Lent, beginning every year two weeks before Ash Wednesday and finishes on Shrove Tuesday.
According to the festival’s website the carnival first took place in the 11th century, when it lasted for two months of revelry, but fell into decline in the 18th century.
It was revived in 1979 and mask-wearing revellers parading around Venice and enjoying live music are now a staple of the Venetian year.
The theme for this year’s carnival, which runs from January 27 to February 13, is ‘Playing’.
Two men were wearing similar costumes as they made their way along the red carpet to take part in a day which is known as the ‘Flight of the Angel’
A female reveller was dressed in white and was covered in feathers and ‘wings’ while holding a plastic sword during the festival on Sunday
A woman dressed as an angel was photographed descending on Saint Mark’s Square during the Venice Carnival in Italy on Sunday afternoon
A masked reveller was wearing an extravagant outfit and posed for the camera while standing next to riverboats during the festival
Men and women wore detailed costumes for the world-famous carnival in the historical lagoon city which attracts revellers from around the world every year
Elisa Costantini, the winner of the ‘Festa delle Marie’ (Marie contest), descending on a zip line from the bell tower into St Mark’s Square during the traditional Flight of the Angel which marks the official opening of the celebrations
A group of young women were wearing matching outfits as they posed near the famous bell tower in the historic Italian city
One reveller was wearing an elaborate Venetian mask and peacock themed outfit as they made their way along the red carpet
Elisa Costantini (pictured) was photographed waving to fans and revellers who had gathered in the famous square on Sunday
She was seen on a zip wire descending from the bell tower into St Mark’s Square during the traditional Flight of the Angel day of the festival
Ms Costantini (second right) smiled as she posed with other revellers after successfully completing her trip on the zip line
One man was wearing a pink outfit with huge feathers on top of a hat as he celebrated the world-famous festival on Sunday
Two revellers were both wearing masks when they posed for the camera during the official opening of the festival in Venice
Two people wearing bright carnival costumes posed in front of Saint Mark’s on Sunday to celebrate the festival in Venice, Italy
Hundreds of revellers packed the square in the heart of the city to celebrate the ‘Flight of the Angel’ on Sunday afternoon
According to the festival’s website the carnival first took place in the 11th century, when it lasted for two months of revelry, but fell into decline in the 18th century