venice weather

The Pussycat

A very cruel sport until the late 18th century in popular festivals, it took place mainly in Santa Maria Formosa Square.

A cat was tied to a table with leather belts leaving its legs and claws free. A contestant, with shaved head, then had to kill the cat by headbutting it!

The eel in the barrel

The eel in the barrel

Crowd-Boxing

Crowd-Boxing

Bull Baiting

Bull Baiting

The Pussycat

The Pussycat

Naumachie

Naumachie

The Strength of Hercules

The Strength of Hercules