Venetian inspiration at Carnival

Seductive masks and periodic costumes transformed the Manoel Theatre into a breathtaking scene from the Venetian Carnival on Saturday night.

The theatre was bathed in coloured light and the seating was removed to make room for some 250 masked men and women to dance the night away.

The fifth edition of the Gran Ballo, in aid of the YMCA Valletta's homeless shelter, kicked off with a lavish banquet at the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. Participants in sophisticated costumes then walked along the streets of Valletta to the theatre for the grandiose ball.

Outside, the streets were teeming as the traditional carnival revelry extended into the evening, with music, dancing and Carnival parties spilling out of the main squares.

Yesterday, the city's streets were packed again for the third day of the five-day celebration of folly. Some Venetian inspiration could even be seen there (left).

Today, brass bands and dance schools will be out in Valletta at 10 a.m. At 5.30 p.m., dancers will take to Freedom Square, followed by a parade of floats and grotesque masks.

A festival of traditional Maltese games will be organised in Vittoriosa on March 29 and not as mistakenly reported in these pages on Saturday.