‘The Carnival in Venice is no goof, no consumistic ceremony, but sincere, wonderful heartfelt tradition that goes back in time almost a millennium’, it is claimed. However, long-established tradition, which has usually involved a beautiful woman swooping down onto Venice’s St. Mark’s Squire from the basilica’s bell tower to mark the start of the Carnival was broken this year when rapper Coolio had been set to perform the “flight of the angel” instead.