PICTURE perfect! These are just some of the magical masks captured in virtual travel guide Olga Dudakova’s ambitious new project to gather 1,000 charismatic characters from this year’s Venice carnival in a series of videos.

Olga, a member of the Together Virtually collective which is carrying on the virtual travel tour work once at risk of disappearing after the collapse last year of streaming service Heygo, says she was looking for a new challenge.

Olga gets in to the Carnival spirit

During a series of live online tours she led last month, she captured thousands of images – both stills and video – as members of the Together Virtually community enjoyed live streamed access to every nook and cranny of Carnevale.

“I set myself a challenge to show you 1,000 Masks of Venice,” she explains. “Every mask tells a story, so get ready to be mesmerised, enchanted – and maybe mystified – on a captivating journey through the city’s enchanting streets, alleyways and waterfront.

“This immersive video showcases the intricate beauty of Venetian masks, capturing the essence of tradition and mystery that defines one of the world’s most iconic celebrations. Let’s go!”

The first part of the video – four are planned – is available on Youtube now, and features an edited compilation of scenes filmed by the tour guide during this year’s festivities, set to music. In all, the initial film runs to a little under 20 minutes.

Read more: Virtually there at Venice Carnival 2024

It’s a riot of rich colour, set against the faded grandeur of canal city Venice, as costumed characters promenade through the squares and streets, trying to outdo each other, wanting to bask in the limelight of romance for a little while.

Although Carnevale is renowned for its colour and spectacle, darker characters stalk the streets too, with surprises lurking around every corner. The Plague Doctor is joined by sinister skeletal figures, creatures and creepy cats.

Regular readers will know that Olga used to be a tour guide in Kiev but fled with her family at the outbreak of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She has since lived in a number of temporary safe havens in Europe, hoping that she might one day be able to return home.

Due to present a virtual tour on the day of war’s outbreak, she instead charted her family’s frightening flight, first to a small Ukrainian village further from the danger zone, then eventually to Hungary to give viewers “a personal picture” of the conflict.

Read more: Why virtual travel is priceless in a troubled world

“Your support means such a lot to me,” she tells the many who have followed her story and virtual tours. “As a Ukrainian refugee, it is a challenging time. For me, your kindness has helped me to explore the relevancy of life.”

Now, she leads not only live-streamed tours from Europe on her YouTube channel but also recordings of tours she used to run in her homeland, featuring beautiful landmarks – some of which have since been destroyed in the war – and the peaceful land she loved.

Read more: If Venice had been designed by Disney …

Keep up to date with Olga Dudakova’s other travels and tours via the Together Virtually portal, her Marvelous KyivYouTube channel, or her Facebook tour page. All images in this post courtesy of Olga.