Italy. Venice Carnival - luxurious, enchanting, mysterious

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The ancient carnival of Ivrea is a colorful costume show, first organized in 1808 and dating back to ancient folk traditions. Since then, the carnival in this Piedmontese town has been held almost every year.

During the three days of the carnival, strings of carts pass through the city streets, musicians and orchestras pass through, including those invited from other regions of Italy and European countries. Every year, the carnival organizers come up with some innovations, but the main program is invariably based on the traditional parade and the famous orange battle.

The Battle of the Oranges takes place on Sunday, Fat Monday or Tuesday afternoon. This is the most spectacular part of the carnival, attracting the largest number of participants, despite the risk of getting a good bruise.

The battle takes place in front of the theater and in the main squares of the city; Two teams are fighting - people on carts and foot troops. Spectators are protected from stray fruit projectiles by a high net. Carts drawn by two or four horses in picturesque harnesses are carried by a dozen fighters in soft protective clothing and terrifying leather masks with iron bars on their faces.

Carnival in Tricarico, Basilicata

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In full accordance with ancient pastoral rituals, during the carnival in Tricarico, masks are driven from winter to summer pastures. The figures of Tori and Giovenca with bells around their necks are led by the shepherd Vaccaro. The “herd” crosses the village in full force, the local nobility joins the procession, and the action ends with the passage of carts and the burning of the Carnival effigy.

Carnival in Mamoiada, Sardinia

The carnival in Mamoiada is associated with ancient Sardinian rituals. The main characters are the masks Isohadores and Mamutones. Issohadores is dressed in a red camisole, a white mask, wears a hat and a small scarf on his belt, and Mamutones is dressed in a sheep's skin, a black wooden mask and hung with heavy cow bells. Sometimes their total weight exceeds 30 kilograms!

Carnival in Viareggio, Tuscany

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The carnival in the Tuscan city of Viareggio is one of the most famous in the world. His carnival “trains” of giant allegorical figures parade along the embankment along the sea. The almost constant theme of these processions is political and social satire.

The tradition of carnival “trains” dates back to 1873: this was how the local bourgeoisie protested against tax increases.

The holiday begins with three shots from a cannon. Then comes the carnival “train”. As if by magic, the figures on the carts come to life, moving to the beat of the music. Every year the characters change, never ceasing to amaze the audience with their appearance. During the month of the carnival, processions take place five times.

Carnival in Cento, Emilia-Romagna

Since 1990, the carnival in Cento has been twinned with the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro. However, in Cento they began to celebrate it much earlier, as evidenced by some frescoes by Guercino. According to tradition, the Tazi mask distributes its goods to the most popular local residents, and then his effigy is cheerfully burned in Piazza Guercino. Due to the 2012 earthquake, the carnival was celebrated in a different location, so its return to the historical site in 2015 added joy and fun to the event.

In 2018, the carnival will begin on January 28 and will take place on Sundays, February 4, 11, 18 and 28; Finally, the winners of the carnival figure competition will be awarded. Then, as always, the burning of Tazi. Have fun and enjoy the unique flavors of Romagna cuisine.

Venice Carnival

One of the most famous carnivals in Italy and the world. Every year, in the depths of winter, Venice is transformed for three weeks. At this time, performances, processions, tastings for adults and parties for children take place on the streets of the city, in famous museums, theaters and palazzos.

The roots of the carnival go back to the distant past. It was first mentioned in one of the documents from the reign of Doge Vitale Falier in 1094. It is believed that the Venetian oligarchy organized this carnival to give the population, especially the poor, an opportunity to have fun and relax. For three weeks, Venetians and foreigners, dressed in costumes and masks, moved around the city from one holiday to another; all this was invariably accompanied by loud music and unbridled dancing.

Thanks to the anonymity of masks, all classes were temporarily equal in rights, and it was even officially allowed to ridicule those in power and aristocrats. In connection with the carnival, a certain format of costume performances was formed in private theaters in the city. Over time, their plot became more complex, often these performances were financed by noble families, and famous actors were assigned to play roles in them.

The main events of the carnival are the Feast of Mary (January 30), when a procession of the most beautiful girls of the city goes through Venice, accompanied by residents dressed in costumes and masks, as well as the Flight of the Angel (January 31). On this day, a white dove is released from the bell tower in Piazza San Marco. During the opening of the carnival, the Cannaregio canal is transformed into a real stage on the water. This show attracts thousands of viewers year after year. Carnival is a great reason to visit Venice!

Carnival in Fano, Marche

The carnival in Fano is the second oldest in Italy after the Venetian one. The first document describing the traditions of its celebration is kept in the city archives and dates back to 1347.

Its main difference from other carnivals is the “Jetto” tradition: throwing hundreds of kilograms of candy from “allegorical carts”. The motto of the carnival is “Beautiful to look at, good to taste.” The action is accompanied by an unusual orchestra, “Music of Arabita,” where, in addition to traditional musical instruments, unusual objects are used. A procession of allegorical figures made of papier-mâché and foam plastic, the height of which reaches 16 m, travels through the city for about two kilometers.

These days, this carnival attracts more than 100,000 visitors and is considered an intangible asset of the city of Fano. Naturally, this is the largest carnival in the entire Marche region.

Carnival in Putignano, Apulia

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The Putignano Carnival celebrates its 624th anniversary this year. And that says a lot. The procession starts on Sunday, January 28, and then continues on February 4 and 11. Closing will take place on February 13 at 19:00.

At the Putignan Carnival, centuries-old traditions meet the ingenuity of contemporaries, so you can expect anything from the carnival floats! Sometimes the humor of the creators of allegorical sculptures balances on the brink of a foul.

Carnival in Acireale, Sicily

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Acireale is a Sicilian town that hosts two carnivals a year.

In February, massive comic figures made of papier-mâché float majestically among the lush baroque of the city center, mummers and masks, attracting everyone's attention.

And in April the action repeats itself! But in spring these allegorical figures are covered with flowers. Architecture, flowers and nature serve as a harmonious setting for these “wandering performances.”

Carnival in Sciacca, Sicily

The carnival in Sciacca is one of the oldest in Sicily. Allegorical figures on carts always amaze with the number, size and imagination of their creators. And if a couple of centuries ago monsters and strange animals were popular, now the main focus is on political satire. A couple of days before the start of the processions, which take place from Saturday to Thursday, the carnival opens with the handing over of the keys to the King of Carnival, in this case Peppa Nappa, a character from the Sicilian traditional theater. On the day of closing, a mask wanders around the city, distributing sausage and pouring wine to everyone it meets, and in the evening, grateful residents burn it in the square.

The inhabitants of the Apennine Peninsula are famous for their unbridled emotionality and constant desire for unbridled bright fun. Amazingly, even the old proverb allows them to go crazy during the carnivals, and it is with enchanting, colorful celebrations that the lion's share of European tourists associate holidays in Italy. Each local celebration is unique and inimitable, it allows you to plunge into the world of adventure, fun, magic and magic!

Famous Italian carnivals

Undoubtedly Italian carnivals gained such enormous popularity thanks to the grandiose annual Venice mass procession. In the luxurious palaces of this magical city, wonderful balls are held, perfectly recreating the amazing atmosphere of medieval festivities. Accompanied by the incessant roar of drums and flashes of fireworks, a costume parade of hundreds of thousands of participants makes hearts skip a beat and attracts incredible attention from the world community.

The stunning celebration in Ivrea boasts two centuries of history. The unique Carnevale d’Ivrea delights citizens and visiting tourists for a whole week, and ends with the impressive Battle of the Oranges.

Note that carnivals in Italy They are distinguished by their colorfulness, pomp and entertainment. Thus, the magnificent monuments, which are made of papier-mâché and are traditionally displayed in Sento, can reach a height of 20 meters. The festival of Dei Figli di Boco is famous for its various magic tricks, incredible stunts, amazing shows and an impressive masquerade procession. As you can see, tours to Italy are a wonderful chance to join the great culture of an ancient power and become part of an amazing large-scale celebration.


Venice. Venice! Venice... The name of this city says so much. After all, these are canals, gondoliers, night walks under the full moon. After all, these are ancient streets and squares. And world-famous temples, and paintings by great masters. And memories of the glory days of Casanova. And carnival. The most famous, the very first Venice Carnival.



The history of the Venice Carnival dates back to the times of Ancient Rome. In Ancient Rome, once a year, during the winter solstice (in December), Saturnalia was celebrated. They were held in honor of the god Saturn, one of the main ancient Roman deities, the patron saint of agriculture. On this holiday, slaves were allowed to have fun with their masters and sit at the same table with them. And so that prejudices would not spoil the mood, everyone dressed up in masks, and now it was not clear who was the master and who was the slave.



With the disappearance of Ancient Rome in the abyss of time and the advent of a new religion, Christianity, the tradition of the holiday itself did not disappear, but was slightly transformed and changed. Now no one bothered the ancient Roman gods anymore, but the masks were preserved, just as the unbridled fun was preserved, when you can forget about all decency. Now the carnival began to be held before Lent, which precedes Easter. And the mention of the first Venice Carnival dates back to 1094. And in 1296, the Senate of the Venetian Republic officially proclaimed the last day before Lent a holiday.



Venice Carnival... But the origin of the word carnival is very confusing. There are several options, the first is carne vale, which means “goodbye meat,” and this name most likely came from the Catholic Church, which thus gave its name to the holiday before Lent. Or car val - which means “ship of jesters” and, thus, gives an apt description of the holiday itself.


The Venice Carnival was magnificent and famous. And...And masks over time became popular not only during the carnival, but also in everyday life. The church even had to issue an official decree banning the wearing of masks outside the carnival. And in 1608, a decree was issued according to which men found wearing masks on non-Carnival days were subject to two years' imprisonment and a fine. They treated women more simply - they were simply flogged in the square.



The Venetian carnival was popular until the 18th century (the 18th century was both the heyday, the peak of the carnival’s popularity, and its end); by the way, Napoleon Bonaparte also turned out to be a big fan of the Venetian carnival. But in the second half of the twentieth century, the Venice Carnival began to gain popularity again.


Now the Venice Carnival is visited annually by about half a million tourists. Moreover, they are not only spectators, they also take an active part in the carnival itself. The most active are older tourists from Italy and France. They sew costumes and participate in costume balls that take place in the ancient palaces of Venice. Young people often have fun in squares and bars.



The Venice Carnival begins with the Festa delle Marie, which is dedicated to the release of Venetian girls kidnapped by pirates from Istria. Then a traditional performance takes place in Venice's main square, San Marco. This performance is “Flight of an Angel”. It consists in the fact that a girl, an angel, descends on straps from the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica. She descends smoothly and gracefully, as if she really was an angel. At the 2010 Venice Carnival, the role of the angel went to the young and beautiful girl Bianca Brandolini D'Add, daughter of Countess Georgina Brandolini. In 2011, the “angel” was Silvia Bianchini, a young resident of Venice.


And then follows the carnival procession and the festivities themselves, both in palaces, bars and restaurants, and in the squares and streets of the city. The whole thing turns into a complete carnival. Everywhere you can meet people in amazing costumes and incredible masks. By the way, today, in addition to the traditional masks of the Venice Carnival, for example, the Plague Doctor, you can also find a variety of fantastic ones, and even masks of famous people, for example, singers or politicians. You can see the mask of Napoleon, who did not like the Venice Carnival, and the mask of Fidel Castro and his comrades. At the carnival, everything is possible, any of your fantasies comes true.



In 1996, the Venice Carnival also had its own anthem, which was written by a famous fashion designer. (on video - Vivaldi)



The Venice Carnival takes place every year. But since the date of the carnival is connected with the date of Easter, and the Easter holiday, as is known, is not tied to a specific date, the date of the Venice Carnival also moves. The Venice Carnival takes place in March or February, and if last year's carnival was in March, then the next one will be in February, and then again in March. So the 2011 carnival took place in March, so the 2012 carnival will take place in February. And don't forget to come up with a mask.


The tradition of carnivals is rooted in the pagan past of mankind. Historians trace the traditions of celebrating carnivals back to time immemorial and believe that these popular festivities, which are still popular today, began with ancient agricultural rituals of welcoming spring and the beginning of sowing. In all archaic cultures, celebrations in honor of the fertility gods were the central event of the year.
Pre-Christian ideas about the unity of man and nature were preserved in folk holidays. They brightened up the difficult lives of people, gave them a respite, an opportunity to temporarily escape from the harsh reality of a cruel world with its exhausting work, devastating epidemics and wars, and the constant expectation of heavenly punishment for any sins. An invariable attribute of festivals of this kind was the ritual of returning to a state of nature, when a person, intoxicated by wine, music and collective enthusiasm, removed the prohibitions of traditional morality. Such celebrations were accompanied by frenzy and were necessary as an essential element of psychological “release.” By dressing in someone else's costume, a person violated a certain taboo norm and went beyond the borders of the ordinary, everyday world into the sphere of violation of prohibitions, parody, and even even entered into relationships with otherworldly forces.

Origin of the word "carnival" it is not clearly understood, a connection is assumed either with the Italian word “carne” (meat) or with “carrus” (cart). Proponents of a derivation from "carne" point to variants of the word in Italian dialects, arguing that the source is the words carne levare“remove meat,” prohibited in Lent. According to another version, the name of this event comes from the name of special platforms in the form of ships - lat. "carrum navalis" ("sea cart", "ship of festive processions"), on which participants of the Saturnalia moved around Ancient Rome.

In the first centuries of our era, ancient paganism in Europe was everywhere replaced by Christianity, with its strict dichotomy of good and evil: the world appeared as an arena for the mortal struggle of God and the Devil, moral principles changed and man was forced to recognize many of his natural needs as sin. Carnivals, despite their frank orgiasticism, or perhaps precisely because of it, did not disappear and became almost the only bridge connecting medieval man, who was too concerned about saving the soul, with his earthly nature.

One of the most famous, colorful and crowded carnivals in the world is, of course, the Venetian one.

Venice Carnival - a holiday with almost a thousand years of history. It experienced its heyday, decline, death and rebirth. During the rise of the Venetian Republic, which lasted for over a thousand years, from the late 7th century to the late 18th century, costume festivities lasted six weeks a year. And at the end of the existence of the republic, masks were worn from October 5 to December 16 and from December 26 to Maslenitsa (that is, in the cold season, the masquerade was interrupted only during the Nativity Fast). After the city surrendered to Napoleon's army without resistance in 1797, the carnival was canceled by decree of Emperor Bonaparte. Dictator Benito Mussolini also did not like the idea of ​​masquerade - in the 1930s, a special document was issued banning carnival masks and outfits.

MASKS
Moretta(from the Italian la moretta or servetta muta - a black oval velvet mask that hides a woman’s face. The ancient moretta was attached with a small pin, which the woman clamped in her teeth - silence only added to the mystery of the beauties.

Bauta(from the Italian bautta - scarecrow) - a men's mask made of white satin with black silk, complemented by a black cape and a black hat.

Cat mask- cats, according to an old legend, were brought to Venice by Chinese traders, who thereby saved the Italian city from the dominance of mice.

Volto- a neutral mask that covers the entire face. Attached to the face using ribbons or held with your hand by the elegant handle.

Doctor Plague- a scary mask with a long beak. Although now part of carnival costume, this mask was once a distinctive feature of doctors during plague epidemics. The rest of the townspeople wore masks during epidemics to deceive the death “wandering” in Venice.

Columbine- half mask, often decorated with gold, silver, crystal and feathers. The mask was part of the image of the actress of the same name in the commedia dell'arte. According to legend, the actress was so beautiful that she did not want to hide her face, and a mask was created especially for her, covering only part of her face.

Other carnival entertainment includes classical music concerts, theatrical performances and thematic excursions around Venice, dedicated to the most interesting pages of the city's history and famous Venetians. You can take a dance class, but don't expect to be shown fancy moves - rather, taught the basics of cotillion step by step. And, of course, any event - from gondola excursions to hot chocolate breakfasts - requires adherence to a dress code: you must wear carnival costumes.

The Carnival of Venice is the most famous carnival
Old World, but by no means the only one. Smaller carnivals
but no less attractiveness and originality are carried out
and in other cities of Italy.

Carnival in a Tuscan town Viareggio (Viareggio) no less famous in Italy than the Venetian one. It has been celebrated since 1873, when the city's aristocracy decided to organize a parade of carnival floats in the city center, and ordinary residents took advantage of the opportunity to dress up in carnival costumes and ridicule local politicians. Since then, the Carnival in Viareggio has been famous as the most daring and revealing in all of Italy, and the figures on the carnival floats clearly reveal politicians and public figures of our day. Along the boulevard stretching along the seashore, huge papier-mâché structures are carried, some of which weigh up to 40 tons. Each of them is a work of art and is created throughout the year by the best artists in the city. The height of each cart reaches 25 meters, i.e. the height of an 8-story building.

One of the most beautiful carnivals in Sicily takes place in the city Acireale (Acireale) in the province of Catania. You will find a parade with a sea of ​​wonderful characters, processions with floats and floats decorated with flowers, as well as fun games and competitions. Don't miss sack jumping and a local pastime called "albero della cuccagna", which means "fat tree". The task of the competition participants is to climb a tree whose trunk is smeared with fat. The Sicilians create carts and decorations for them all year round; they carefully prepare for the carnival, which is why it turns out so beautiful and bright, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

The most famous carnival in Sicily is the carnival in the ancient, medieval city Sciacca in the province of Agrigento. The king of the carnival, Peppe Nappa, opens the festivities with symbolic keys on Maundy Thursday, and at the end of the carnival he will suffer the same fate as all the kings of the Italian carnivals - he will be burned in the square. Along the medieval streets of the old city, from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until 5 o'clock in the morning the next day, strings of allegorical carts built according to the strict laws of the carnival, groups of dancers from various dance schools march, and rhythmic, carnival music continuously sounds.

Carnival in Mamoyade(Mamoiada) in Sardinia - one of the most ancient folk holidays celebrated on the island. Residents of this town gather in the central square to dance for several hours in a row to traditional music and admire the festive procession of Mamuthones Issohadores - traditional Sardinian masks. The Juvanne Martis Sero mask symbolizes the end of the carnival. On Tuesday, this doll is transported on a small cart through the streets of the town. The cart is carried by men mourning the death of Juvanne Martis Sero and performing heartbreaking pitiful chants. At the end of the ritual, in the square and on the streets of the town, all participants are treated to wines and typical local dishes of pork and beans. More and more people come to witness this action.

Carnival in Putignano(Putignano) in Puglia It is primarily known for being one of the oldest and longest running in Europe - all entertainment events last a total of about one and a half months, starting immediately after Christmas. The main symbol of the carnival is the harlequin Farinella in a traditional white and green costume. One of the most colorful events of the carnival is a parade of moving allegorical platforms on which huge funny and sometimes ironic compositions are installed, often dedicated to some vital national manifestations of life, or simply cheerful bright scenes. Every day of the carnival is remarkable for something. The “analog” of the American Groundhog Day is celebrated - Bear Day, which is credited with unusual abilities, for example, to predict the weather! If the weather does not spoil the residents on this day, then the bear is made in the form of a haystack, so that in the future weather troubles will pass by. But even today, according to tradition, the carnival ends with a comic theatrical funeral procession mourning Mr. Carnival. The faces of the “mourners” are hidden by mournful masks; they “moan and sob” loudly. The “mourners” are followed by the widow of the Carnival, accompanied by harlequins who howl and play along with her. In the main square of Putignano, the widow receives condolences from senior officials of the City Council, after which a symbolic doll, Mr. Carnival, is burned.

A few kilometers from the city Arezzo(Arezzo), on an ancient Roman road, hidden among vineyards and olive groves, stands an ancient Tuscan city Castiglione Fibocchi. In the last days before Lent, figures appear on its streets dressed in bright mythical outfits, hiding their faces under mysterious masks. The Carnival dei Figli di Bocco (Children of Bocco) is famous for its traditional night festivities, moonlit carnival processions, magic shows and magic shows in the piazzas, Baroque costumes and masks, and delicious treats in honor of King Bocco.

Sister carnival in Rio de Janeiro, carnival in Cento (Cento)in the province of Ferrara) - one of the most spectacular and fun carnivals in Europe. Throughout the year, carnival associations prepare allegorical floats that compete for the main prize in a difficult festive competition. True works of art, papier-mâché monuments can reach 6 meters in length and width and be up to 20 meters high, compete to win the 1st prize of the carnival. The symbol of the carnival is the TASI MASK. According to legend, this Tasi was a big lover of good wine, and when it came to choosing between his wife and a glass of Lambrusco, he chose the second option. Tasi opens the parade on the first day, and on the last day of the carnival the traditional “burning of Tasi” ritual and a large fireworks display take place.

The carnival has a history of more than 200 years. Ivree(Ivrea)in Piedmont. The townspeople, as in past centuries, dress up in historical costumes and march through the city to the sounds of drums and bagpipes in a colorful procession with flags. Carnevale d'Ivrea lasts a week, ending with the famous Battle of the Oranges, and including parades, music, and a giant bonfire. But it is the throwing of oranges at each other that attracts the most attention. The townspeople are divided into nine teams that walk around throwing oranges, and several more teams that sit above the crowd on the balconies and terraces of buildings. The teams on the balconies, wearing huge helmets in addition to other protective gear, represent an army of oppressive feudal overlords, while the participants on the ground are ordinary citizens trying to rebel. People on the ground wear some protective equipment, but there are no helmets. Another interesting thing about this battle is the fact that all the people are dressed in historical costumes. The Orange Massacre is one of the holidays that is beloved and popular not only in Italy, but also abroad.

“The whole world is a theater, and the people in it are actors...” - said the great Shakespeare. These words perfectly characterize the spirit of the carnival. They don’t watch plays here, they live them here.

The article uses information from the site italiamania.ru

“Italians were born tired and live to rest,” Heinrich Heine once remarked. Perhaps the German poet overdid it when describing Italian hard work, but he is right that Italians really know how to relax and have fun with all their hearts. One of the Italian proverbs says: “Once a year you can go crazy,” and a string of February carnivals V cities in Italy confirms this.

The history of carnivals originates in the ancient festivals of Fertility, as gratitude to the God Saturn. They were called Saturnalia. It was during these times that the tradition of hiding one’s face under masks arose. And it was she who gathered both slaves and their masters at one table, since the masks hid the true class affiliation of those sitting next to them.

Later, the Doges of Venice took advantage of this to try to find out what his people really thought of him. Wearing a mask, the ruler went out into the streets, trattorias and communicated with his subjects. Carnivals in Italy have taken root in many cities, and Italian residents are looking forward to February in order to let off the steam that has accumulated over the year.

One of the most recognizable carnivals and it amazes with its luxury and pomp. It’s hard to imagine, but some amateurs work for a whole year in order to earn money to sew themselves a stunning carnival costume and go to Venice for a week. Walk and introduce yourself, accepting another compliment and allowing enthusiastic photographers to capture your unforgettable image.

The grand opening of the carnival takes place on the main one, San Marco. From the bell tower of the Campanile they launch a paper dove, Columbine, which, like a firecracker, explodes in the air, and millions of paper confetti fly out of it. Every year in Italy they choose the most beautiful girl of the year. It is she, attached to a cable, that is lowered onto the stage installed in Piazza San Marco. It is at the moment when the beauty’s foot steps on the stage that the carnival in Venice is considered open.

From this, the assembled audience is delighted and the celebration begins. Music can be heard throughout the city, Italian and foreign artists perform, dances, clowns on stilts, decorated gondolas and smart gondoliers run along the entire Canal Grande, ancient sea voyages and excerpts from famous Italian performances are played out. Well, and, of course, the color palette is filled with luxurious costumes of parading masks.

The Venice Carnival has a different theme every year. The theme of the Venice Carnival 2015 is “Wonders of Nature.” At the end of the carnival, the winning mask is chosen, which most clearly depicts and reveals the theme of general fun.

And, of course, night discos not only in San Marco Square, but throughout the city: laughter, fun until the morning. For lovers of more sophisticated places, closed balls, which can only be attended by invitations received or purchased in advance.

Carnival in Viareggio.

Carnival in Viareggio is known for being daring and brash carnival in italy, because in the carnival procession among fairy-tale and fantasy characters, in the huge floating dolls one can recognize modern Italian politicians or scenes exposing well-known political situations.

Historical carnival in Ivrea.

The historical carnival in Ivrea takes place in accordance with historical national traditions. The procession of townspeople dressed in national costumes ends with a cheerful and sometimes painful orange battle. It is the battle of oranges that attracts a huge number of townspeople and tourists to take part, but both the music and the giant bonfire very harmoniously complement the atmosphere of the carnival in Ivrea.

Carnival of Europe in Cento.

The Carnival of Europe in Cento adopted Brazilian traditions and became twinned with the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. A samba parade, music and dancing, huge papier-mâché dolls slowly move through the streets of the city of Cento.

Carnival of Figli di Boco,

passing a few kilometers from the city of Arezzo. Held on an old Roman road. The Fil go Boko Carnival is famous for its incredible mythical costumes, festivities until the early hours, bonfires, dancing and magic shows.

Carnival in Acireale, Sicily.

One of the most famous carnivals in Italy. Famous for its processions of huge figure dolls that smoothly flow through the historical small streets of the Italian city Acireale.

Carnival in Sciacca, Sicily.

Takes place in an ancient, medieval city Sciacca, in Sicily. On Maundy Thursday, the king of the carnival, Peppe Nappa, opens the festivities. Music, dancing and fun and huge dolls fill the streets of the city. At the end of the carnival, Peppe Nappa, burned at the stake in the central square.

Carnival of Mamoyada in Sardinia.

The Mamoyada Carnival takes place in the national traditions of Sardinia. First, city residents gather in the central square to drink wine and dance national dances, and watch the procession of extraordinary Sardinian masks. At the end of the carnival, they are treated to beans and pork dishes and treated to wine.

Carnival in Putignano.

One of the longest and most fun carnivals in Italy- Carnival in Putignano. It lasts about one and a half months. Carnival processions, music and fun accompany everyone who came to see the cheerful carnival participants.

Carnival of Sartiglia in Oristano, Sardinia.

The Sartiglia Carnival in Oristano, Sardinia is a kind of knightly tournament. Carnival manager - Componidori, decides who participates in the battles. Komponidori, a mask, is a kind of separation of the mythical world from the real. A bouquet of violets, racing, building acrobatic figures - all this is part of knight's carnival.

Svetlana Conobella, from Italy with love.

About konobella

Svetlana Konobella, writer, publicist and sommelier of the Italian Association (Associazione Italiana Sommelier). Cultivist and implementer of various ideas. What inspires: 1. Everything that goes beyond generally accepted ideas, but honoring traditions is not alien to me. 2. A moment of unity with the object of attention, for example, with the roar of a waterfall, a sunrise in the mountains, a glass of unique wine on the shore of a mountain lake, a fire burning in the forest, a starry sky. Who inspires: Those who create their own world, full of bright colors, emotions and impressions. I live in Italy and love its rules, style, traditions, as well as know-how, but the Motherland and compatriots are forever in my heart. Editor of the portal www..