They come from all over Europe. Dressed in velvet, lace and jewels, “the masks,” as they are known, populate the streets, squares and canals of Venice. Once a year, during the 2-week period known as Carnevale, their historic, creative costumes help bring this enchanting city to life. Call it a Baroque-era version of Comic-con, it attracts both participants and spectators alike.

In between appearances, they can be seen gliding carefully through the narrow backstreets of the city – turning sideways to allow clearance of their wide hoop skirts. They are often spotted quietly crossing the many canals on vaporettos or gondolas. Occasionally you encounter tables full of them at bistros, nibbling on cicchetti and sipping Aperol Spritzes.

Their enigmatic presence raises so many questions: who are they? Where did they come from? How do they do this? Why? You hear them speak in many languages and with varying accents, suggesting this may be a large community of enthusiasts. According to one participant there are clubs throughout Europe where these costumers participate in Venetian style Carnival celebrations. This year most participants were from France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the U.K. and, of course, Italy.

A jester near San Marco

Some of the more elaborate period costumes on display can cost as much as $5,000 and take a year to produce. They may have many layers of expensive fabric, inlaid costume jewels, sequins and feathers, as well as large headdresses or complicated props. A lot of costumers wear contrasting makeup and brightly colored contacts underneath their masks. Many of the “masks” return each year with a new costume and some with several. Locals have noticed a slight changeover to a new, younger generation of maskers after the pandemic.