Carnival in Viareggio, Versilia, is the most spectacular in Italy
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Attracting over a million spectators, the Tuscan Viareggio Carnevale in Versilia is one of the most famous masked parades in Europe and giant papier-mâché floats tower over the spectators.
In February 1873 the idle young rich nobles decided to celebrate Mardi Gras, before the start of Lent, with a procession of floats adorned with flowers, The locals donned masks, as a sign of protest over the higher taxes they would have to pay, and the carnival was born. It soon became an annual event and the floats got ever more elaborate, aided by the skills of Viareggio's boat builders.
Nowadays the floats are made out of papier-mâché and satirise politicians and daily life, often reaching higher than the rooftops. and are masterpieces of sculpture and painting. The carnival now runs for 3 weekends before Lent and the first weekend after Ash Wednesday, with both daytime and evening activities taking place. It includes marching bands, masqueraders, floats, dancers and many groups come from all over Europe to join the celebration.
If you can't make it to the carnival itself, then it's worth visiting The Carnival Museum and Cittadella where all the previous year's first category floats are stored in giant hangers. This will whet your appetite for the real thing and a visit to Viareggio in Lent will become a must...
Useful links
Carnival Museum
Italian Tourist Board
Versilia Tourist Board
Viareggio Carnival
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