Plague Doctor
The origin of the Doctor’s costume is French, dating back to the sixteenth century. The plague was present throughout Europe and arrived in Venice around 1500. At that time people built votive temples as the Redentore and Madonna della Salute, there was also a very fragile health organization and poor hygiene.
The Doctor of the plague makes its appearance in Venice at the behest of the Doge and he tries to cure this disease in different way. He wore a linen tunic or a black oilcloth to prevent infectious miasma to settle on his clothing.
He used a stick to lift the sheets without coming into contact with objects and unhealthy bodies.
Besides that it also had a black hat, glasses with glass lenses and a beak (the doctor’s mask Plague) that was filled with fragrant essences and disinfectants such as mint, basil, rosemary.
This professional prowled the streets of Venice to try to limit the thousands of victims.
The carnival relieves this frightening symbol of death.
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