The Carnival of Venice is an annual celebration in Italy — and one that’s world famous for its intricate Venetian masks. In the festival, these masks are part of elaborate costumes that evoke feelings of pomp, elegance and even a bit of magic. But did you know that these disguises are more than beautiful pieces of art? Here we’ll explore how each mask symbolizes a character from the Italian theater tradition of Commedia dell’Arte, and cover a bit of the history behind these classic tropes.