Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 126 islands on the Adriatic Sea that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are linked by 472 bridges. Venice has been known as "La Dominante", "La Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". The Venice Carnevale, is easily the world's most beautiful festival, chracterised by the Venetian Masks and their very elaborate and outrageous costumes.