Carnival season kicks off in Venice, Nice and Viareggio (Photos).

Itar-Tass - Venice’s traditional carnival attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists is getting under way in Venice from Feb. 4.

The focal point of the event is the city’s central St. Mark’s Square, featuring a wine fountain.

Also seated here is a huge lion, - the main symbol of Venice. Yet another symbol will become a nine-metre bull, that’s due to be “sacrificed”, as it were.

It will be burnt on Fat Tuesday, February 21st, - the last day of the carnival. Crowds of people in traditional Venetian costumes and wearing masks are due to turn up on the streets in the next few days.

The prominent Dagestan dance ensemble Lezginkawill perform in St. Mark’s Square as part of the festival “Cultural Mission. St. Petersburg-Venice”, held for the seventh consecutive time during the carnival.