The country has taken yet another small step towards normality, with the celebration of the Carnevale di Viareggio, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition because of Covid-19.

While times are still difficult across the globe, the rise in the number of vaccinated people and the overall efficacy of the jab means we may start looking at the future with a smile. And is there a better way to stamp a smile on your face than an Italian-style carnivalesque parade?