The Venice Carnival kicked off on 8 February, bringing cheer to the Italian city that was hit by severe floods only months ago.

Revelers showed off their best costumes and masks during the annual festival that will last for about two weeks.

The festival opened with a traditional parade on the Cannaregio Canal, one of the main waterways of the city.

Acrobatic acts were the main feature of the parade, as they spun hoops of fire, rode on a giant metal horse, danced inside a bubble on a boat and even flew in the air hanging on to balloons.

The spectacle lit up the skies of Venice, wowing the thousands of spectators who came out to watch.

The theme of this year's festivities was "Love," which Venetians echoed as they recalled the city coming together following the acqua alta, or high-tide, that hit Venice in November last year, causing infrastructural damage. 

"The theme of love is the one we always learn after great tragedies and, really, the idea is to unite, to be together," Venice's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, told AFP.

The second day of the carnival featured a parade on the Grand Canal. A fleet of boats and gondolas, the traditional Venetian rowing boats, accompanied the carnival's symbol "Pantegana" (a rat), as it arrived in Cannaregio.

Tourists arriving in the city took the opportunity to don costumes and masks to blend in with Venetians as per the festival's traditions.

The Venice Carnival is said to have been around for centuries, helping boost the tourism industry in the already popular city.

Various events take place during the two weeks, some free and open to the public and others ticketed – including a masked ball that demands attendees dress in "historical costume."

It will last until 25 February, ending before the start of Lent – a period during which many Christians observe six weeks of abstinence leading up to Easter Sunday.