Carnevale

Executive summary by darmansjah

The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. The festival is famed for its elaborate masks.

Venetian masks feature prominently in the film Eyes Wide Shut. Stores that supplied the masks include both Ca' Macana and Il Canovaccio in Venice.

Carnevale is depicted in the 2009 video game Assassin's Creed II. The main character, Ezio Auditore, is assisted by the artist Leonardo da Vinci in hunting down and assassinating the corrupt Doge of Venice during Carnevale; a golden mask, which Ezio must obtain to enter a private party held by the Doge, plays a significant role in this part of the game. Carnevale is also depicted in the 2005 video game Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. The first episode of the game is set during Carnivale in 2001, and large enemies wear masks.