Beyond Venice: 10 other carnivals to visit in Italy this year
Though the Carnevale di Venezia is Italy's most famous carnival event, there are numerous other carnival celebrations across the country that are equally worth visiting.
From Sicily to Sardinia, Tuscany to Marche, we've gathered some of the alternative Italian carnivals that we think are most worth your time.
The dates listed below are when you'll be able to see the main events, but most carnivals will also host a range of related events throughout the month of February and early March.
These might include anything from papier-mâché and mask-making workshops to musical performances and food stalls: check out the programmes below for more details.
Fano - February 16th, 24th; March 2nd
Fano's is the sweetest of all the festivals, as chocolates, sweets and sugared almonds are thrown from the float wagons into the crowds of spectators.
It dates all the way back to 1347, making it one of Italy's oldest carnivals, and is thought to have originated as a celebration of the reconciliation between two warring local families.
If you prefer sweet spectacles to tastes, in the last parade the floats are traditionally lit up with luminarie, making them particularly impressive to look at.
Viareggio - February 8th, 16th, 22nd, 27th; March 2nd, 4th
In Viareggio's masked parade, hundreds of colourful papier-mâché floats of up to 70 feet in height are carried along the seafront of the Tuscan town amid music and dancing performances.
The Carnevale di Viareggio started out in 1873 as a protest against the upper classes not having to pay taxes.
To this day, the event continues to provide political and social commentary, so expect to see papier-mâché caricatures of politicians and celebrities atop the carnival floats.
More information is available here.
Cento - February 16th, 23rd; March 2nd, 9th, 16th
This quiet medieval town in the Emilia Romagna countryside comes to life when it puts on its 'Carnival of Europe' festival. Since the early 90s it's been twinned with Rio de Janeiro's carnival, with the winning floats later appearing in the Rio parade.
Watch out for flying objects – part of Cento's tradition is the gettito, where toys and inflatable objects are thrown from the floats into the crowd. The end of the festival is marked with an unmissable fireworks show.
More information here.
Sciacca - February 22nd, 23rd, 28th; March 1st, 2nd
Concerts, parades, plenty of food and drink and a grand ball make up the festivities at this Sicilian extravaganza, which has a friendly rivalry with Acireale.
It's thought to date back to Roman times, and the highlight is on the final day when the chariot of Peppe Napa, the Carnival King is burned in the town's main square.
More information here.
Ivrea - March 2nd-4th
Looking for something more exciting than your average parade? In Ivrea, the highlight of the festivities is the annual orange fight – a rather messy way of commemorating the local people's struggle against the city's tyrant and, later, against Napoleonic troops.
Those on foot represent the townspeople while those on carts play the part of the troops, all throwing oranges at each other.
The epic battle lasts three days - this year, from March 2nd to March 4th - at the end of which awards are bestowed on the winning teams.
More information here.
Acireale - February 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd; March 2nd, 3rd
Acireale's festivities once involved locals throwing rotten eggs, oranges and lemons at each other in the street. Luckily for 21st century visitors, the custom was banned in 1612.
These days the local carnival is a much more respectable affair: besides papier-mâché caricatures of public figures, you can expect to see elaborate flower and light displays.
If you miss the February-March festivities, Acireale's carnival is so popular it usually returns for a few weeks in July and August.
More information here.
Putignano - February 16th, 22nd; March 2nd, 4th
Putignano's carnival is one of Europe's oldest, dating back to 1394, when the relics of Saint Stephen were transported to the town to protect them from Saracen raids, and locals downed tools to join the procession and celebrate.
This is also one of the longest-running carnivals in Europe, technically starting on Boxing Day and traditionally ending on Shrove Tuesday, when a papier-mâché pig is carried through the streets and then burned. Concerts, shows and various parades all feature.
More information here.
Tempio Pausania - February 27th, 28th; March 2nd, 4th
Spanning six days, the Carrasciali Timpiesu carnival in Tempio Pausania is one of Sardinia's most important, with cultural roots that date back to ancient times.
It starts with the triumphal entrance of King George, a straw puppet known as Jolgliu Puntogliu. For several days, the king plays a central role in the general festivities and merriment, then on Mardi Gras he's put on trial for all the town's ills and burned at the stake.
Mamoiada - February 17th; March 2nd, 4th
This is not your usual Italian carnival with brightly decorated floats and people in fun masks and costumes.
The ancient celebrations in this Sardinian town are famous for the symbolic figures of the Mamuthones, dressed in black sheep skins, dramatic black masks and giant bells, and the Issohadores, wearing bright colours and carrying lassos.
The figures, representing joy and good tidings, move through the streets in a slow, rhythmic dance as the Issohadores try to 'catch' the spectators with their ropes. Locals will also dress up in traditional clothing for the celebrations.
More information here.
Santhià - March 1st-4th
This unassuming town in the Piedmont countryside hosts a massive carnevale festival. The historic event features giant floats, music performances and plenty of chances to try local food – like the famous gianduia chocolate spread.
The traditional sfilata (parade) involves 2,000 people with 10 floats and 10 masked groups.
Unmissable parts of the event include the Colossale Fagiuolata, where a traditional dish of beans, salami and lard is served to festival-goers, and the Rogo del Babaciu, the burning of a stuffed figure in the town's piazza.
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