Template:POTD/2018-01-27

Picture of the day

Masked lovers during the 2010 Carnival of Venice, an annual festival held in Venice, Italy, which ends on Shrove Tuesday. Although it traces its roots to the 12th century, the current festival only began in 1979, when the Italian government used the Carnival as the centerpiece of its efforts to bring back the history and culture of Venice. Elaborate masks such as those shown here play a central role in the festival, and have become part of popular culture.Photograph: Frank Kovalchek