LIVORNO -- The Carnival of Viareggio is a yearly event held in the Tuscan city of Viareggio. It is considered among the most renowned carnival celebrations in both Italy and Europe. Its main characteristic is the parade of floats and masks, usually made of paper-pulp, depicting caricatures of popular people.
The parade takes place on Viareggio Avenue, located along the local beach Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28 and March 5.
A triple cannon shot from the sea announces the start of each parade, and floats topped with huge paper mache figures begin their slow move along the Lungomare promenade.
On Feb. 7, the opening ceremony begins at 3 p.m. followed by the first parade, which concludes with fireworks. All other parades begin at 3 p.m. except for the last one March 5, which will take place at 6.30 p.m. Buy tickets for the Sunday processions at the Fondazione Carnevale on Piazza Mazzini, or at a ticket kiosk on the procession circuit.
It is also possible to visit the "La Citadella di Carnevale" where floats are created in 16 hangars. Discover carnival history and the art of making teste in capo (the giant heads worn in processions) and mascheroni a piedi (big walking masks) in the Museo del Carnevale.
According to the website www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com, origins of the Viareggio's Carnival fall back to February 1873 among the young of Viareggio's high society. On Mardì Gras 1873, the carnival was born. By the end of the nineteenth century, this festival was already hugely successful. The parade consisted of monumental floats built of wood, plaster and jute and modeled by sculptors, carpenters and ironmongers.
After an interval of some years during World War I, the floats were back in 1921 when they paraded along Viareggio's two main avenues, running parallel to each other and the seafront.
In 1925, through the initiative of some builders, papier-mâché was introduced to create floats and, from then on, has allowed colossal but light constructions to be used. With this technique, one could say the history of the Viareggio Carnival turned into legend, thanks to the "paper mache wizards." In 1930, Uberto Bonetti, the painter who had illustrated the magic of the carnival with official posters, created Burlamacco, which rapidly became the symbol of the carnival. Since 2002, Viareggio carnival has been named the Italian and European Carnival.
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