Carnival is one of the most ancient rites celebrated in history. As far back as the Ancient Greeks, Dionysian feasts were celebrated by the ancients, while Romans celebrated the passage from winter to spring with the Saturnalia. In Catholic tradition, Carnival represents the popular feast period preceding the fast and abstinence of Lent. The first allegorical floats and costumes appeared in Italy in the XVI century. Every Italian city has its own Carnival mask – Punchinello in Naples, Harlequin and Brighella in Bergamo, Doctor Balanzone and Fagiolino in Bologna, Ragantino in Rome, Gianduja in Turin, Meneghin in Milan, Stenterello in Florence, and Pantalone and Columbina in Venice. Every region also boasts it own doughnut or pastry for the event, including
frìtole, galàni, bomboloni, castagnole, krapfen, crema fritta and tortèi with feverfew..
The
Venice Carnival is without a doubt Italy’s most famous. The earliest known celebrations there date back to the XII century. Every year, jubilant crowds fill St. Mark’s square and the city’s other campi to the brim. In 2010, celebrations will be focusing on the senses –
Venice Sensation: 6 sense x 6 sestrieri. A rich programme of events open to the public free of charge will see street theatre and costume parades, concerts and historical re-enactments, entertainment for kids and dancing all night, food tasting opportunities and other sensorial experiences, all designed to create a unique Carnival experience for visitors, involving all five senses.
www.carnevale.venezia.itThe heart of
Verona’s carnival revolves around the two central squares of Piazza San Zeno and Piazza Brà. Celebrations include the city’s traditional parade of allegorical floats created by carnival committees, the traditional regatta along the Adige river, and the handing out of the city’s typical potato dumplings or
gnocchi by the city’s legendary paternal carnival character Il
Papà del Gnocco. Carnival celebrations in the city go back to 1531, the year famine brought the city to the brink of a popular uprising in protest against rises in the price of flour. In an effort to calm tempers, a committee was appointed, including Tommaso da Vico, which had the idea of handing out to the hungry populace bread, wine, butter, flour and cheese. In this way the tradition of Venardì Gnocolàr was established, when gnocchi are distributed in the town square. Today, gnocchi remain Verona’s typical carnival delicacy, served with melted butter and grated cheese, tomato sauce, or the traditional pastissada.
www.larenadomila.it/bacanalThe historic carnival of
Ivrea has attained international fame over the past decade. Every year,
Vezzosa Mugnaia, the heroine of the feast, the General and his
Staff, the
Acting Grand Chancellor, the city’s
Podestà, marching standard-bearers each representing the city’s quarters or
Abbà, along with the
Pipers and
Drummers, all call the public to take part in the spectacular show. Don’t miss the wildly engaging
Battle of the Oranges held in all the city’s major squares, which anybody can take part in by simply enlisting with one of the nine foot teams, or by joining orange-throwers on carts.
www.carnevalediivrea.it The
Carnevale della Risata or “laughing carnival” of
Busseto, a picturesque town some 30km from Parma, was first held in 1881, bringing together the carnival masks and home-made allegorical floats of nearby towns into a wonderful parade through the town centre. The town is brought to life by itinerant shows in costume, concerts by historic bands, entertainment for kids, masked parades, street artists, acrobats, jugglers, dancers and cheerleaders, giant papier mâché floats and flag flyers. Carnival here is also an opportunity to taste the local gourmet specialties.
www.carnevaledibusseto.comCarnival in
Viareggio transforms the city into a colourful open-air theatre, brought to vivid life by the colour, music and masks that take over the streets. Giant papier mâché floats parade down the three kilometres of Viareggio’s promenade, offering a satirical glimpse at the Italian and international politicians they represent. The giant papier mâché figures are the fruit of extraordinary artistic talent and the supreme expression of this local craft, attracting thousands of tourists to the city every year.
www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.comThe
Carnevale dei Figli di Bocco in
Castiglion Fibocchi, a picturesque medieval town in Tuscany just a few kilometres away from Arezzo, has an age-old tradition. Over 200 characters in fantastic costumes and masked faces reverently invite visitors to take part in the celebrations with elegant bows and curtseys. The fine attention paid to detail and the beauty of the costumes proudly distinguish the event. Street artists, theatrical shows, gourmet stalls, a wide variety of entertainment and fireworks displays create a wonderful backdrop to this magical event.
www.carnevaledeifiglidibocco.itThe origins of carnival in
Offida date back to the mid 1700s. The two key moments that shape and characterise the Offida Carnival are the
Lu bov Fint and
I vlurd. Lu bov Fint is a rudimentary ox made of a wood and iron frame covered with a red-striped white cloth, carried down the central streets of the town by two men. In the town square a crowd awaits to taunt the “fake ox” with their shouting and cackling, giving shape to a spectacular show reminiscent of the Spanish bullfight. The show ends with the symbolic slaying of the ox and its funeral procession to the tune of Offida’s carnival anthem.
I vlurd are bundles of cane filled with hay lit on the night of Shrove Tuesday, and carried along the streets of the town by men and women on their backs. The parade ends in the central town square where a huge bonfire is lit, unequivocally marking the end of carnival.
www.inoffida.it