The Lion of Saint Mark, representing Mark the Evangelist, pictured in the form of a winged lion, is an aspect of the Tetramorph. On the pinnacle of St Mark's Cathedral he is depicted as holding a Bible, and surmounting a golden lion which is the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic. The Venice Carnevale is not entirely about masked costumers. Local Italians prefer painted faces. Gioacchino Sparrone, a veteran at the Venice Carnevale comes dressed as the Lion of Saint Mark.